What does it taste like? Is it worth buying to use in recipes that call for it?
Would it be giving a distinct flavor that would totally change a dish if it were left out?
Saffron has a unique flavor, some would label it 'kind of medicinal'. You use only a pinch. If you have never used it before, just to get some experience, I would recommend making some saffron rice. About 1/4 of a teaspoon for two cups of uncooked rice. This will give you some clues about how much you would want to use in a recipe with more expensive ingredients. And saffron rice really is good (not on my diet anymore, unfortunately). Maybe I should make some saffron riced cauliflower.
ps - In Mexico they have something called (Mexican) saffron - it is not the same thing, and does not have the same taste. Not a fraud, just different.
pps - grocery stores charge tons for almost no saffron. Kitchen shops or online is about $10 a gram, which will last you a long time. Refrigerate.
If you ever smelled crocus flower, this is exactly what saffron smells/tastes like, since it is essentially the dried stigma of the flowers.
You can use it in many vegetable based dishes, the best way to use the flavor is to put a pinch in melted and slightly boiling butter (on a very low temperature).
From reading at Penzey's, each 1 gm is about 450-500 threads or 2 tsp whole or about 1/2 tsp ground. They also say that any ground that you buy is probably cut with tumeric. 1/2 g runs $7 or 8 for the threads. I'm making an order soon, I may just add some in. Most recipes I've seen call for 2 or 3 threads, maybe a few more, so it should go a long way.
I love saffron. It's expensive but only because it takes like 75,000 plants to yield a pound of saffron. I get mine from Penzey's as well. I only use a pinch about 3-5 stems in a batch of rice. It turns it a pretty light yellow/orange color and I love the hint of flavor. The bottle I got lasts forever. You don' need much it is concentrated.
So we have "unique", "a little medicinal" and "like crocus smells" - - I can't remember what crocus smells like (sorry Galya)
I guess I'll just have to acquire some and see what flavor it brings for myself.
saffron
- I can't remember what crocus smells like (sorry Galya) 
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