[Sca-cooks] Saffron in Ireland

[Wanda Pease]

While saffron may have originated in the Eastern Mediterranean, we know it
was grown in England (Saffron Walden).  The question might be if the climate
of Ireland, or portions of Ireland would have allowed the growing of the
Saffron Crocus.  I grow it here in Portland, Oregon, and friends have no
problem growing it in Pennsylvania where they got the bulbs from the local
Pennsylvania Dutch organization.

It might have been growable in Ireland at one time, and then a small
climatic change (little ice age anyone?) might have made it unfeasible.

Regina


> 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.
>
>