Saffron
Spice & roots· spice

What it tastes like
On the nose: camphor, woody, citrus. Among its measured molecules: β-isophorone, safranal, dihydro-β-ionone, geranylacetone, β-cyclocitral.
What goes with it
- Green teaboth carry β-cyclocitral, clean citruscite
- Eucalyptusboth carry 1,8-cineole, camphorcite
- Gingerboth carry 1,8-cineole, camphorcite
Salt and acid
Salt
Sodium 148 mg per 100 g — USDA FoodData Central 170934.
Acid
Acid not measured yet.
Unusual pairings
Pairs the library can cite that almost nobody makes.
- Saffron + Coriander seed
both carry limonene, lemon (126 of 338 carry it)
- Saffron + Rosemary
both carry 1,8-cineole, camphor (43 of 338 carry it)
- Saffron + Sage
both carry 1,8-cineole, camphor (43 of 338 carry it)
15 of 164 compounds on file carry a paper the library can cite.
1,8-cineolearomaterpenoidreads as camphor-like odor (PubChem)Measured in 38 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene alcohols, row 'Eucalyptol' (code V20, RI 1219/1219, ID 'RI/MS/S'))α-phellandrenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 29 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 'α-Phellandrene' (code V16, RI 1177/1171, ID 'RI/MS/S'))γ‑terpinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 44 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 'γ-Terpinene' (code V24, RI 1257/1257, ID 'RI/MS/S'))α-terpinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 16 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 'α-Terpinene' (code V17, RI 1190/1190, ID 'RI/MS/S'))p-cymenearomaterpenoidreads as mild pleasant odor (PubChem)Measured in 42 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 'p-Cymene' (code V28, RI 1285/1287, ID 'RI/MS/S'))β-cyclocitralaromaterpenoidMeasured in 10 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene aldehydes, row 'β-Cyclocitral' (code V55, RI 1649/1638, ID 'RI/MS/S'))β-isophoronearomaketoneMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene ketones, row 'β-Isophorone' (code V39, RI 1428/1429, ID 'RI/MS/S'))terpinolenearomaterpenoidreads as terpene taste (PubChem)Measured in 38 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 'Terpinolene' (code V29, RI 1291/1291, ID 'RI/MS/S'))limonenearomaterpenoidreads as pleasant lemon-like (PubChem)Measured in 91 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 'D-Limonene' (code V19, RI 1209/1209, ID 'RI/MS/S'))myrcenearomaterpenoidreads as pleasant (PubChem)Measured in 68 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 'β-Myrcene' (code V15, RI 1166/1166, ID 'RI/MS/S'))safranalaromaterpenoidMeasured in 2 of 338 ingredients.cite
below the limit of quantification in the control, rising to 2.69 ± 0.35 g/kg saffron under the 800 W / 40 s treatment — García-Blázquez et al. 2021, Foods (Table 2 (Content of the main compounds of saffron obtained under different microwave dehydration treatments), column 'Safranal')picrocrocintastesugarMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
244.2 ± 8.9 g/kg saffron in the control, falling to 174.3-233.7 g/kg across the microwave dehydration treatments — the largest single metabolite measured in that table — García-Blázquez et al. 2021, Foods (Table 2, column 'Picrocrocin')dihydro-β-iononearomaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene ketones, row 'dihydro-β-ionone' (code V70, RI 1857/1854, ID 'RI/MS/S'))trans-β-iononearomaterpenoidreads as warm woody, dry, and fruity odor (PubChem)Measured in 19 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene ketones, row 'trans-β-Ionone' (code V75, RI 1967/1964, ID 'RI/MS/S'))geranylacetonearomaketoneMeasured in 9 of 338 ingredients.cite
detected in saffron and confirmed against an authentic standard — Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods (Table 1, Monoterpene ketones, row 'trans Geranyl Acetone' (code V71, RI 1871/1870, ID 'RI/MS/S'))
On file, no cited source yet ✳
These molecules are on record for it from the library's earlier sources. We are buying and requesting the papers; each one that lands moves its molecule up into the cited list.
- 2,4,4-Trimethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-one
- kaempferol 7-O-glucosideflavonoid
- Crocin 5
- 2-Methyl-6-oxo-2,4-heptadienoic acid 6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester
- Crocin-4terpenoid
- 13-cis-Crocinterpenoid
- (4R)-3,5,5-Trimethyl-4-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-cyclohexen-1-oneterpenoid
- (4S)-3,5,5-Trimethyl-4-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-cyclohexen-1-oneterpenoid
- Crocin 6terpenoid
- beta-D-glucosyl crocetinacid
- tyrosolphenol
- (4S)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-oneterpenoid
- Kinsenosidesugar
- 6''-O-Acetylastragalinflavonoid
- Goodyeroside
- beta-D-gentiobiosyl crocetinacid
- pyrogallol
- syringic acidphenol
- Crocusatin Gterpenoid
- CTK1C6954terpenoid
- Crocusatin Fterpenoid
- Crocusatin Cterpenoid
- Crocusatin Jterpenoid
- phenylethyl beta-D-glucopyranosidesugar
- thyminenitrogen compound
- (4S)-4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-oneterpenoid
- uracilnitrogen compound
- 4-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehydeterpenoid
- 5-methylfurfuralfuran
- 2-hexanolalcohol
- (4S)-4-[(2S,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxolan-2-one
- Isovanillic acidacid
- Kaempferol 3-sophoroside 7-glucosidesugar
- 3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-oneflavonoid
- 3-Gentiobiosyl-kaempferolflavonoid
- (1S)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-olterpenoid
- Mangicrocinterpenoid
- Crocin 4terpenoid
- 4-hydroxybenzoic acidacid
- capric acidacid
- Eucarvoneterpenoid
- 4-[(3S)-2,6,6-Trimethyl-3-hydroxy-1-cyclohexen-1-yl]-3-buten-2-oneterpenoid
- 4-Hydroxybenzoyl glucoseester
- Kaempferol 3,7,4'-O-triglucosideflavonoid
- 3,4-dihydroxybutyric acidacid
- 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E)-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-18-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)octadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-nonaenyl]cyclohexeneterpenoid
- (3R,4S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-1-(9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)pentan-1-onenitrogen compound
- (4S)-4-hydroxy-4,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-oneterpenoid
- (4R)-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxycyclohexene-1-carbaldehydeterpenoid
- 16-Methoxy-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-16-oxohexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenoic acidterpenoid
- zeta-caroteneterpenoid
- 4-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-3-oxo-1,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxaldehydeketone
- perlolyrinenitrogen compound
- 1-methyl-3H,4H,9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indolenitrogen compound
- bis[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3S,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl] (2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioateterpenoid
- [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl acetateflavonoid
- (2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-16-oxo-16-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenoic acidterpenoid
- CZSBHMFVVLYIQQ-JSGNAMQFSA-Nterpenoid
- (2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-16-oxo-16-[(2S,3S,4S,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenoic acidterpenoid
- [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-[5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl acetateflavonoid
- (2S)-2-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-oneterpenoid
- (4S)-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxycyclohexene-1-carbaldehydeterpenoid
- 1-[2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]ethanone
- 1-O-methyl 16-O-[(2S,3S,4S,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] (2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioateterpenoid
- 7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-3-[(2S,3S,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-2-yl]oxy-3,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-oneflavonoid
- 1-[4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-6-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]ethanone
- (8E,10E,12E,14E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioic acidterpenoid
- benzyl β-D-glucosidesugar
- methyl vanillatephenol
- benzoic acidphenolreads as bitter taste (PubChem)
- Populnin 3-O-(6-O-acetyl-D-glucopyranoside)flavonoid
- (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl (3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl (2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioateterpenoid
- Tricrocinterpenoid
- 6-Hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2,4,4-trimethylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one
- benzyl alcoholalcoholreads as faint aromatic odor (PubChem)
- bis[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl] (2E,4E,6E,8E,10Z,12E,14Z)-2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioateterpenoid
- crocetin diglucopyranosideester
- Crocetin neapolitanose gentiobiosyl esterterpenoid
- 2-Isopropylidenecyclohexanoneterpenoid
- methyl esterprotocatechuic acidphenol
- capric acidacid
- 4-coumaric acidacid
- salicylic acidacid
- Bis[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl] 2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioateterpenoid
- 4-hydroxybenzoic acidphenol
- 2-Cyclohexene-1,4-dione, 2-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-terpenoid
- caprylic acidacidreads as slight odor (PubChem)
- lauric acidacidreads as characteristic, like oil of bay (PubChem)
- naringeninflavonoid
- naringinflavonoid
- delphinidin 3-O-glucoside cationflavonoid
- petunidin 3-O-beta-D-glucosideether
- Crocetin digentiobiosyl esterterpenoid
- 9-alpha-Ribofuranosyladeninenitrogen compound
- (2-{9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl}furan-3-yl)methanolnitrogen compound
- β-caroteneterpenoid
- (all-E)-phytoeneterpenoid
- all-trans-zeta-caroteneterpenoid
- stigmasterolalcohol
- rutinflavonoid
- kaempferolflavonoid
- zeaxanthinterpenoid
- crocetinterpenoid
- crocinterpenoid
- harmannitrogen compound
- myricetinflavonoid
- rhamnetinflavonoid
- Astragalinflavonoid
- sophoraflavonolosideflavonoid
- Quospflavonoid
- crocetin dimethyl esterterpenoid
- isorhamnetin 3-O-glucosideflavonoid
- 3-Hydroxy-beta-iononeterpenoid
- (2Z,4E,6Z,8E,10E,12E,14Z)-2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioic acidterpenoid
- alpha-Crocetinterpenoid
- gentobiose (pyranose form)sugar
- 2-Ethoxy-5-methoxybenzaldehydephenol
- (4R)-4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-oneterpenoid
- phenylethyl alcoholalcoholreads as sharp burning taste (PubChem)
- adenosinenitrogen compoundreads as mild, saline, or bitter taste (PubChem)
- Senecialdehydealdehyde
- 5-Methoxyfuraldehyde
- kaempferol 3,7-di-O-beta-D-glucosideflavonoid
- Crocusatin Hterpenoid
- p-coumaric acidacid
- (E)-sinapic acidacid
- amylene hydratealcoholreads as camphor odor (PubChem)
- Crocusatin Kterpenoid
- all-trans-phytoflueneterpenoid
- isophoroneketonereads as camphor-like (PubChem)
- linaloolalcoholreads as spicy, citrus taste (PubChem)
- (R)-naringeninflavonoid
- protocatechuic acidacid
- crocetinterpenoid
- methylparabenesterreads as slight burning taste (PubChem)
- nicotinyl alcoholalcohol
- Dimethyl 2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaenedioateterpenoid
- pelargonic acidacidreads as fatty odor (PubChem)
- vanillic acidacid
- beta-Crocetinterpenoid
- hexanoic acidacid
- phytoeneterpenoid
- niacinamidenitrogen compoundreads as bitter taste (PubChem)
- phytoflueneterpenoid
- 3-hydroxybutyrolactone
- (4S)-4-[(beta-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)methyl]-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-oneterpenoid
- (4S)-4-hydroxy-3,5,5-trimethyl-4-[(1E,3R)-3-{[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy}but-1-en-1-yl]cyclohex-2-en-1-oneterpenoid
- crocetin gentiobiosylglucosyl esterester
- Crocusatin Bterpenoid
Sources
- Cozzolino et al. 2022, Foods
- García-Blázquez et al. 2021, Foods