• The village of Alcala de Jucar in the Castilla la Mancha region famous for the production of high quality saffron. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    The village of Alcala de Jucar in the Castilla la Mancha region famous for the production of high quality saffron. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • Neighbours separate the red stigmas from the purple rose flowers during the saffron spice harvest in the village of Alcala de Jucar, in the Castilla la Mancha region of Spain. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    Neighbours separate the red stigmas from the purple rose flowers during the saffron spice harvest in the village of Alcala de Jucar, in the Castilla la Mancha region of Spain. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • Siro Torres gently toasts the harvested saffron spice at his house in Alcala de Jucar. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    Siro Torres gently toasts the harvested saffron spice at his house in Alcala de Jucar. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • A traditional basket is filled with saffron rose flowers during the harvest of the spice. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    A traditional basket is filled with saffron rose flowers during the harvest of the spice. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • The purple saffron rose with the red stigmas during the harvest of the spice. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    The purple saffron rose with the red stigmas during the harvest of the spice. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • Neighbours separate the red stigmas from the purple rose flowers during the saffron spice harvest. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    Neighbours separate the red stigmas from the purple rose flowers during the saffron spice harvest. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • A traditional basket is full of saffron rose flowers during the harvest of the spice. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    A traditional basket is full of saffron rose flowers during the harvest of the spice. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • A sack-full of saffron commercialised by Francisco Martinez Navalon of the Saffron company Azafrones Manchegos is seen at his warehouse. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    A sack-full of saffron commercialised by Francisco Martinez Navalon of the Saffron company Azafrones Manchegos is seen at his warehouse. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • Workers harvest the saffron flower on November 7, 2014 just outside village of Alcala de Jucar. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    Workers harvest the saffron flower on November 7, 2014 just outside village of Alcala de Jucar. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
  • The saffron flower is harvested on November 7, 2014 just outside village of Alcala de Jucar. Denis Doyle / Getty Images
    The saffron flower is harvested on November 7, 2014 just outside village of Alcala de Jucar. Denis Doyle / Getty Images

Business

A bumper crop of one spicy number - in pictures

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Liz Claus

Saffron is a highly coveted spice obtained from the stigmas of the saffon rose flower and is thought to have been introduced into Spain by the Moors in the 10th century.

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