[Sca-cooks] Saffron in Ireland

[Cathy Harding]

There is also a study of saffron and other spices/dyestuffs being shipped
to ireland.  I can't recall the source right now, it was a presentation at
a geography coffee (friday talks by outside speakers)  when I was in grad
school.

I seem to recall that the amount of saffron was quite large.  THe original
source for the data was shipping and custom records and dated to at lest
the 15th cen.

Maeve
(it's too hot to think and I have been in the garden too long this evening.)

> Saffron is native to the Eastern Mediterranean (Asia Minor primarily).
> The
> Romans brought it to Northern Europe and England, but use there declined
> as
> the Empire collapsed.  The Moors reintroduced saffron to Europe during the
> Islamic expansion and probably also introduced saffron to India.  BTW, in
> the Medieval period, "Indian saffron" was tumeric.
>
> I don't recall any Irish Crusaders, so that part of the tale is suspect.
> In
> Roman times, the Irish may have taken saffron in raids on England, but a
> steady supply most likely only became available after 1171, when Henry II
> claimed Ireland, opening eight centuries of trade and travail between
> England and Ireland.
>
> IIRC, McClintock in Old Irish and Highland Dress mentions saffron dyes in
> relation to Irish clothing from about the 15th Century, but it has been
> several years since I casual read the book nad my memory may be faulty.
>
> Bear
>
>
>
>>Where is saffron native, and when did it come to Ireland? A friend
>>was told that saffron was from India, was brought to Ireland by the
>>Crusaders.  Since it was known in Minoan Crete, and has a long
>>history in Spain, I would guess that it has a much longer history in
>>Ireland than this.
>>
>>Ranvaig
>
>
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