Let's talk about Saffron

**Alan H** · 5th January 06, 03:44 PM

I've done a bunch of reading, a lot of it on Matt's web site about the saffron-dyed garment, the leinte and it just never rings true with me. Saffron, while it is a very powerful dye, is the pollen of the crocus plant. This plant does not grow naturally in Ireland or Scotland. Thus it would have had to have been imported, probably from Spain.

Have you bought saffron recently?

Take a look... http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/saffron.htm

thirteen thousand stamens PER OUNCE.... It costs about $5 a gram, now in the 21st century.

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/pDetail...s=1&price=4.95

Which is expensive, but not stunningly so.

OK, so here's what I think....check this out. The following links are all about the plant commonly known as "Heather", which of course grows rampant all over Scotland and Ireland. Note the references to the yellow dye made from Heather.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/...ris&CAN=COMIND

http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/fores...k/heather.html

http://www.tartans.scotland.net/making_tartan/dyes.cfm

Notice also that ragwort and broom and other commonly available plants make yellow dyes, plants are all over the place in Sotland and Ireland.

http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/ie/...uction-191.htm

http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/museum/plants.htm
So while it's common useage to refer to 'saffron" as the color of the bright yellow leinte's, I *Really* wonder if saffron was the source of that yellow color at all. it doesn't make much sense when other outrageously common plants that would have cost the local weaver absolutely nothing to harvest, yield aabsolutely wonderful yellows. I wonder if the term "saffron" wasn't first used by a visitor to the isles, who happened to associate the bright yellow color with what he was familiar with as yellow.....saffron.

So, what color does the yellow dye produced by heather impart to linen and wool?

http://www.reconstructinghistory.com...affrondye.html

In that article, the dye-lady used broom, mordanted with alum to create bright yellow linen and also a brownish-yellow wool. This is perfectly consistant with the traditional colors.

So in conclusion, it sure seems to me a *whole* lot more likely that the ancient Irish, and the Scots as well, used, broom, heather or ragwort to create their yellow dyes, and not the outrageously expensive saffron.

Now, on to another topic...I see numerous references to "heather tea" and also heather ale. Heather Ale?????

Has anybody ever tried this?

**Alan H** · 5th January 06, 03:48 PM

Incidentally, there are 28.4 grams per ounce.

If saffron today, costs $4.95 per gram, then that means it's $140 an ounce....what did it cost in the 17th century, in ancient Eire? And a leinte is a BIG piece of material, you know?

**michael steinrok** · 5th January 06, 04:02 PM

with nobility comes (hopefully)the ability to pay. But why? It's an ugly color akin to the yangtze river and the comings from the south end of a northbound dog! If you all like it more power to you. Just don't think I'm going to wear it because someone else is illadvised..End of rant.

Slainte

**flyv65** · 5th January 06, 04:14 PM

It was my understanding that saffon was only the color name, not the source of the color. IIRC, there was a History Channel International special that delved into several possible sources of yellow dyes in Eire that could provide the shade commonly called saffron (not just vegetal, either).

Bryan...I think I saw it about two months ago...