Discover Spain’s signature spices: Saffron and Paprika.
One of the most precious cooking spices in the world, saffron has a revered place in Spanish cuisine. Its sweetly pungent aroma infuses everything from paellas to lamb stews, soups, sauces and even ice cream. Spanish saffron is a must in any gourmet kitchen.
Gathered by hand from the “saffron rose” or crocus flower grown in the fields of Castilla y la Mancha in central Spain, it takes some quarter-million crocus blooms to make a single kilo of saffron. It’s no surprise then, that Saffron is so precious. Spanish Saffron, like the Spagnia brand, are considered to be the best produced in the world.
To maximize saffron’s flavour you can gently grind the dried threads with a mortar and pestle, then heat them slightly on a pot lid before stirring them into your stew or sauce no more than 15 minutes before the dish in finished cooking. You can also soak strands in a cup of warm water to create a saffron infusion that’s added to your dish while cooking.
Spanish paprika or pimentón is used in a wide range of dishes like Spanish tapas, appetizers, fish and meat dishes. Just try to imagine the famed Spanish Chorizo Sausage without paprika! Yet, despite its importance, the origins of paprika are simple: a ground spice produced from sun-dried peppers and ground into the wonderful paprika.
This process produces different styles of pimentón: the sweet and mild version is used in a wide variety of everyday dishes. Next is bittersweet, which is moderately spicy and great for adding some fire to Spanish stews and soups. Fiery, hot paprika uses its potent aroma and flavour to transform simple ingredients like octopus. Lastly, smoked paprika. The peppers used to create this special variety are hung and left to dry under oak fires.
Spain’s pimentón heritage is strictly protected by law and only the finest quality peppers are used to produce the various styles. Spagnia brand spices are produced using traditional methods and highest quality ingredients. You’ll find Spagnia brand Saffron and Paprika at BOSA Foods and other fine specialty grocers.
