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Well and Good: Saffron Is Excellent for Long-Term Brain Health, Mood-Boosting Benefits, and (Of Course) Cooking

October 4, 2023

Michele Ross
October 4, 2023

Depending on your taste preferences, certain spices—including but absolutely not limited to oregano, cayenne, and cinnamon—may be staples in your pantry. One less common spice that you may not keep in stock is saffron. Maybe that’s because you’ve yet to try it and aren’t sure what dishes it pairs well with… or perhaps because it’s known to be the most expensive spice in the world.
So what, exactly, is the deal with this luxurious and often elusive spice? Ahead, two dietitians share the benefits of saffron, how it can inspire your home cooking, and more.

What is Saffron?

Saffron derives from the dried stigmas of the plant Crocus sativus L., explains Brooklyn-based dietitian Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN. “The dried stigmas look like threads or strands, are often a bright reddish-orange, and are used throughout a number of cooking applications,” she continues.

As for the taste, Feller says it’s challenging to describe. “It’s earthy yet subtly sweet,” as well as “very recognizable and unforgettable” once you try it. Moreover, she notes that the flavor can be polarizing: “Either you love it or you don’t, and most love it.”

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Maya Feller

Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN is the founder and lead dietitian at Maya Feller Nutrition. In her practice, her team provides medical nutrition therapy and nutrition coaching for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mood disorders, developmental disabilities, disordered eating, and more. Maya believes in providing inclusive nutrition education from an anti-bias patient-centered, culturally humble approach to help people make informed food choices. Maya shares her approachable, food-based solutions with millions of people through regular speaking engagements, writing, her social platforms, and as a national nutrition expert on Good Morning America, is a Healthline Medical Advisor, and on the advisory board for SHAPE and Parents, as well as appearing on TODAY Show, Tamron Hall, and in The New York Times, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, Food Network, Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Cooking Light, Eating Well, Prevention, Glamour, SELF, and more. She is the author of The Southern Comfort Food Diabetes Cookbook: Over 100 Recipes for a Healthy Life and Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World (goop Press, January 24, 2023).

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