However, if you find a deep red color in the water, then it is a definite sign of adulteration. You might also find that the water is turning bright yellow or prominent red color stains in the water. Moreover, a pure saffron thread will never lose the red color. However, if you keep fake Saffron for an hour in this cold water, it may turn white.
The most common hack to identify real and fake Saffron is to understand the taste profile. Fake Saffron is coloured red using foreign substances, and it lacks the true flavor of Saffron which is sweet. You might get a bitter or metallic taste. Thus, you are not only losing the Kesar benefits but also its wonderful taste.
On the other hand, real Saffron has a very strong scent, along with an earthy and floral taste. Even if the water test fails, your taste buds won't make a mistake.
Finger/Palm Rubbing Test
Dip the saffron threads for a few seconds in cold water, and then place them on your finger or palm. Now, rub the threads with two fingers back and forth for a few seconds. If it is a pure saffron thread, then it won't break.
However, if the Saffron threads are adulterated, then upon rubbing, they will turn into dust or might even turn into liquid. Thus, the health benefits imparted by this Indian spice, along with Saffron benefits for skin, are also lost due to fake saffron usage.
Smell Test
The most competent quality of pure Saffron is its taste and smell. Saffron usually has a very sweet and floral smell. If you take the aroma of your Saffron, it will be similar to the honey and hay mixture.
Other than this, if you have bought adulterated Saffron, you will get a pungent smell from the spice. This is due to the high level of chemical usage in the form of Safranal and Picocrocin.
Baking Soda Test
Take a cup of water and mix at least two tablespoons of baking soda in the water until the mixture looks uniform. Now, add a few saffron threads to it and stir for 2-3 seconds. If the mixture looks yellowish, it denotes that you have bought pure quality saffron.
However, if the mixture turns maroon or reddish, you have fallen prey to cheaters. This also deprives you of the Kesar powder benefits.
Conclusion
Saffron is considered one of the world's most expensive spices, so if you are spending money, it should be worth it. JK Cart provides you with the best-tested Saffron, maintaining a high-quality consistency. Every strand undergoes a quality check before they are packed. This is to ensure that you can enjoy a fresh, aromatic and unadulterated Indian spice.
