No wonder it's so expensive.

It is a very tasty herb, but it is more expensive than gold by weight because it is made from the stamen of a flower that blooms once a year. The good news is you don't need much for cooking or for health.

It's highly adulterated, just like many other supplements, but more so because of the price. It's actually pretty cheap as a supplement. Needs to be a standardized extract from a reputable manufacturer. Standardization will typically include either: 1. Crocin, Picrocrocin and Crocetin 2. Safranal Or a combination of all of these. Dose 20-50mg depending on the extract. If you opt for saffron threads, then again, make sure you get them from a good source.

also cheaper version is lavender