A new shop has just opened up in BARGA VECCHIA – Zafferano di Barga – The Barga Saffron
The ribbon was cut yesterday by the new owners of the business, Silvia Bacci and Francesco Toschi, helped along by the new Mayor of Barga, Caterina Campani.
The couple run the azienda biologia Conca d’oro in nearby Bugliano where they produce the saffron – the spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus”. The vivid crimson stigmata and styles, called threads, are collected and dried to be used mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food.
Saffron was long among the world’s most costly spices by weight. Although some doubts remain on its origin,it is believed that saffron originated in Iran.