Saffron is mentioned in a writing on papyrus about 1500 before Christ. It was widely grown from Crete to England, where its stigmas were used for herbal and medicinal purposes. The crocus was greatly valued in the ancient world. In India it's called kesar and highly prized. A flower of ritual and ornament, it was also used as food and as a source of dye and was connected with ceremonies. Its petals were scattered on the ground at social gatherings and on the matrimonial bed after a wedding. Crocus essence was used as a perfume and the stamens of autumn-flowering Crocus sativus are the source of saffron.
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