saffron threads
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Among all products of which the land of Sardinia is able, saffron stands out. Infact San Gavino's farmers produce around the 60% of the Italian saffron.
We produce it by organic ways and, above all, we leave it in its natural state: the stigmas (or pistils), thin red threads situated in the flower.
The threads are the only proof of the product purity (it is very easy to adulterate saffron powder by adding other substances).
That's why, when you use our proud product, you need less than half the amount specified in the recipes with saffron powder. Our mothers need only 1 gram of saffron threads to spice 5 kiloes of rice!
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Saffron probably comes from Asia Minor, its name comes from the arabic word "za'faran" ("yellow"). The oldest document that certifies its production is an Egyptian papyrus of 15th century b.C.. It arrived in Italy in the Roman age but it practically disappeared from Europe during the barbaric occupations. The Arabs conquerors reintroduced it in Spain from 961 b.C. and it respread throughout Europe. In the Middle Ages it was prevalently used as a medicinal, whereas in the Renaissance it acquired the qualification of spice.
In Sardinia it arrived between 6th and 9th century thanks to the basilian monks, who used it for liturgical motives and as textile dye.
Saffron production in San Gavino began around 13th century thanks to the Pisans.
It notably developed its marketing from 17th century onwards, mainly through "is tzafaranaias", women that travelled around the countryside of southern Sardinia, but also in the center (where it was used as dye of some parts of the traditional costume).
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Equimediterranea
Autumn 2005 and 2006: presentation of our saffron threads at the Confagricoltura stand at the Sardinian International Fair
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La provincia produce
Dicember 2005 ÷ 2008: presentation of our saffron threads at the Sardinian International Fair
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Trade fair
Presentation of our saffron threads at the Sardinian International Fair from 27th April to 8th May 2006
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Mission to Berlin
Meeting with German buyers to show our saffron threads and other products from Sardinia (4th ÷ 7th July 2006)
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Italia in tavola
Our saffron threads at the Brescia's Fair from 5th to 8th October 2006 tested by big italian cooks with other great Italian agricultural products
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Sardinia at the Harrods
Meeting with international journalists and buyers to promote our saffron threads and other Sardinian products in London (23th October 2007)
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Salone del Gusto
Presentation of our saffron threads and other Slow Food products in Turin (23th ÷ 27th October 2008)
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