Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world, and for good reason. Evidence suggests this unique and costly spice may have a significant impact on the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Saffron is harvested from the stigma of Crocus sativus, a perennial plant belonging to the iris family. The flower has three stigmas of saffron that must be harvested while the flowers are still closed, during the one week every year when the plant flowers. It’s believed that saffron is native to Greece, but today most of the spice is grown in Iran, Greece, Morocco, and India. The spice has a complex flavor profile that is difficult to describe. On its own, saffron smells woody with an earthy scent. To buy the real deal, saffron can cost up to $13 per gram, or about $365 per ounce. To produce one ounce of saffron takes 3,000 stigmas, …