Coffee with saffron is valued not only for its original delicate taste, but also for the diverse beneficial qualities of the world's most expensive spice. Saffron is harvested by hand, which results in its high cost.
The piquant spice with a bitterish, unusual flavor bouquet is especially popular in Greece, Arab countries, and Spain. Cultivated mainly in Iran. A variety of recipes are used to make healthy coffee with saffron.
Beneficial features
The raw materials for the production of the spice are dried stigmas obtained from the flowers of saffron - in Latin Crocus sativus from the Iris family. The beneficial characteristics of this plant have been noticed for over 4 thousand years and they are expressed in the following directions:
- strengthening immunity;
- memory improvement;
- relieving anxiety, restlessness;
- saturating the body with energy;
- increased performance;
- improved mood;
- decreased concentration of the stress hormone cortisol;
- mitigation of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome;
- activation of leukocyte production;
- normalization of heart functions;
- strengthening blood vessels;
- pressure stabilization;
- improvement of male sexual activity.
Thanks to the presence of antioxidants, saffron slows down age-related changes and promotes skin resistance to the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation.
What grains are suitable for the drink?
If it is not possible to bring grains from Arab countries, suitable ones can be found on store shelves. There are several varieties on the market. Coffee with spices and cardamom is especially popular. The drink turns out thick and rich.
Europeans prefer ground coffee, which contains 10% cardamom. The taste of this drink is soft and delicate. In addition to its special aroma, cardamom imbues the drink with beneficial properties. This product is considered one of the best aphrodisiacs, thanks to it it relieves fatigue and irritability, stimulates the heart, and cleanses the blood of toxins.
For Arabic coffee, the Mocha mixture, which was named after the city of Mokha, is also suitable. It is located on the shores of the Red Sea and is famous for its coffee plantations, where high-quality beans are grown. Fine, medium and coarse grains are suitable for preparing the drink. Powdered coffee is the strongest, it has a rich taste and aroma.
Saffron for weight loss
The inclusion of coffee with saffron in the diet when maintaining a diet aimed at losing weight is explained by the ability of this spice to intensify the removal of fat from the body.
Saffron also helps reduce appetite, which leads to a decrease in food intake. This spice promotes quick saturation and maintains this feeling for a long time. The feeling of hunger is significantly dulled and does not cause discomfort.
The ability of spicy spices to improve mood and eliminate depression helps to quickly get rid of extra pounds. Already a month after the introduction of coffee with saffron to the menu, you can notice positive dynamics in weight loss.
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Black pepper
If you're new to making spiced coffee, try black pepper. It will highlight the natural coffee flavor.
Pepper cleanses the gastrointestinal tract and regulates its functioning. If used regularly, it will help get rid of toxins, cleanse the blood vessels of the brain, improve memory and mental performance.
Salt
No more than 2-5 grains of salt will change the flavor of the coffee. To avoid spoiling it, use purified salt.
In many eastern countries, salt has become a secret ingredient. It is added to the cezve during cooking.
To learn this method at home, read the article “How to make coffee with salt.”
Daily norm
It is recommended to consume no more than 1 gram per day. When the dosage is increased to 5 grams, you may feel signs of poisoning. If you consume more than 20 grams of spice per day, death can occur.
To determine what safe amount of seasoning should be added to coffee, consider that 1 gram is 2 tsp. whole stigmas or ½ tsp. ground.
How is real Arabic coffee prepared and served?
In some countries of the Middle East, monuments to coffee devices have been erected (Bahrain, UAE, Qatar). There are many Arab traditions associated with coffee. The drink is served according to seniority. Coffee is poured three times into ceramic or porcelain dishes; you cannot ask for more, as this is considered indecent. In the countries of the Levant (countries located near the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea), before the wedding, the girl had to brew and serve her own coffee to the matchmakers.
There are also areas where the owner of the house must serve this drink to guests, thus expressing his friendly disposition. If the guest refused, it was regarded as an insult. When welcome people come to the house, small cups are placed on the table and as soon as they are empty, the owner tops up the coffee. The unexpected guest is treated to a drink from a large cup so that he drinks and leaves quickly.
Arab coffee brewing begins with the selection of green beans. Place them in hot cups filled with charcoal. As soon as the grains acquire the desired color, they are taken out with tweezers one by one and carefully examined. Those that meet the standards are crushed by hand. If the grain is burnt or not cooked through, it is thrown away. Grind suitable raw materials in a wooden mortar and iron pestle.
The Arabs do not recognize any technical devices. Everything is done only by hand. The grains must be ground to powder. There are several options for making Arabic coffee. Anyone can brew such a drink, the main thing is to choose the right grains.
Recipes for making coffee with saffron
You can add spicy Arabic seasoning to different types of coffee. In any situation, the taste will noticeably improve. If desired, use special recipes for delicious drinks with saffron.
Arabic style with cardamom
This drink is considered festive in many eastern countries.
Ingredients:
- ground natural coffee - 1 tbsp. l.;
- powdered cardamom - 1/3 tsp;
- whole saffron - 1 tsp. or ground - ½ tsp;
- purified water - 220 ml.
Cook with minimal heat in a Turk. You need to bring it to a boil three times. All ingredients can be placed at once, resulting in a richer taste. There is another way when only coffee is brewed first. Then cardamom and sage are poured into it and kept under the lid for 2-4 minutes. Before use, if you used whole saffron, strain the drink through a strainer.
Bahraini coffee with cardamom, rose water
In the Kingdom of Bahrain, rose water is easy to buy as it is very popular and is sold in stores. In our country it is more difficult to purchase, but this drink is sold in some retail outlets. If necessary, can be made from rose petals.
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Ingredients:
- ground Americano coffee beans - 1 tsp;
- rose water - 1 tsp;
- a grain of cardamom or ground - on the tip of a spoon;
- crushed saffron - ¼ tsp;
- water - 220 ml.
Water is poured into the Turk, coffee powder and spices are placed. At low heat, bring the drink three times until signs of boiling appear. Then pour it into a cup and add rose water immediately. The drink acquires a refined aroma of oriental spices with subtle notes of rose scent.
Turkish with cinnamon
Since cinnamon is one of the most popular spices in Turkey, it is often added to coffee. When heated, it imparts viscosity to the drink, while making the flavor bouquet of finely ground Turkish coffee more expressive. Cinnamon is also taken in powder form, which allows you to consume the finished drink without straining.
Ingredients:
- natural coffee, ground to dust - 1.5 tsp;
- cinnamon powder - ½ tsp;
- water - 200 ml;
- ground saffron - on the tip of a knife.
All ingredients are placed in the Turk at the same time. Set the temperature to low and heat three times, avoiding boiling. In order not to stir the dense foam that appears, sugar is added, if necessary, along with spices.
Contraindications and possible harm
Despite its many beneficial properties, coffee with cardamom also has contraindications. This is a possible individual intolerance and acute gastric diseases. It is undesirable to use this seasoning for gastritis and peptic ulcers in the acute stage.
It is not recommended to add this spice to children's drinks and dishes. You should also follow the dosage when adding cardamom to coffee, because too much of the spice can cause diarrhea and dehydration.
Given its benefits and the absence of contraindications for pregnant women and breastfeeding, it is worth drinking drinks with a small amount of cardamom, but preferably not every day.
Is it worth buying ready-made mixtures?
Online stores offer a variety of mixtures made from ground coffee beans and saffron. It is not advisable to purchase such products, since it is difficult to obtain a reliable guarantee of the authenticity of the seasoning used.
You can buy dried saffron stigmas. At home they are crushed using a coffee grinder. And then mix thoroughly with ground coffee. For a jar weighing 250 grams, it is enough to add 1-2 grams of seasoning.
Connoisseurs of the flavor bouquet of saffron recommend that you try adding this seasoning to coffee. If you wish, you can practice different recipes, choosing over time the most suitable option for a healthy drink to start the day.
What seasonings can be added to coffee?
The list of spices that are used to make coffee is quite large. What kind of seasoning should be added to the drink is a matter of taste. Some coffee lovers want a spicy taste, others want a new bouquet of aromas, while others prefer a variety of flavors instead of the usual classics.
There is also a separate category of people who add spices to take care of their health. After all, as you know, many seasonings can neutralize the harmful effects of caffeine on the body. In addition, each spice has its own set of beneficial properties that have a beneficial effect on the immune, nervous, digestive, cardiovascular and other systems of the body.
The most popular coffee additives include:
- cinnamon;
- cardamom;
- black pepper;
- vanilla;
- ginger;
- carnation;
- nutmeg;
- star anise (anise);
- saffron;
- Bay leaf;
- coriander;
- caraway;
- garlic.
Spiced coffee goes well with citrus additives: lemon, orange, lime. The drink acquires an exotic taste and aroma, which not only gives you a burst of energy, but also improves your mood.
Coffee seasoning must be fresh, and not stale on the kitchen shelf. Spices lose their aroma over time and absorb foreign odors. Such an additive will only spoil the drink.
It is recommended to use freshly ground spices (if you need to grind them) or whole spices, but from a freshly opened package. You can prolong the freshness and aroma of seasonings only by storing them correctly. For this purpose, glass containers are used, which are hermetically sealed with a lid.
It is difficult to give a definite answer to the question of how much and what spices should be added to coffee. It depends on the preferences of the person drinking the invigorating drink. The variety of seasonings combined with coffee provides a lot of options for experimentation: you can try new combinations, enhance and change the flavor of the drink. For those who trust only proven methods of preparing the drink, there are ready-made recipes.
Cardamom has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and stomach, has calming properties, and is also a caffeine neutralizer. The spice is quite fragrant and gives the drink a spicy kick.
To add cardamom to coffee, grind it and add a tiny amount to the coffee so that the drink does not lose its natural aroma.
Although ginger powder is considered a spicy seasoning, its taste is barely perceptible in coffee. Ginger improves immunity and can very quickly invigorate and relieve fatigue. It also affects blood circulation in the body.
When brewing coffee, you should not add more than half a teaspoon of spice to the coffee pot.
Cinnamon gives coffee a special, sweetish aroma and taste. It can be added both during cooking and into the finished drink.
The spice has a warming and anti-inflammatory effect, making it a useful supplement in the treatment of colds.
The sweet aroma of vanilla makes the coffee delicious and smooth. Both the additive, ground into powder, and in the form of a pod are suitable for the drink.
Coffee with vanilla lifts your mood, calms your nerves, and successfully fights sleep disorders.
Cloves have a specific aroma, which is why true gourmets prefer coffee with this spice. The seasoning has a bitter taste, so you should be careful with the proportions when cooking.
Coffee with cloves will be useful for people engaged in mental activity, as it perfectly stimulates brain function. Cloves improve digestive processes and protect against colds in winter.
The fiery seasoning perfectly complements the aromatic drink. Two peas are enough to cleanse the body of accumulated harmful substances, add strength, and help in the treatment of respiratory diseases.
Black pepper coffee lovers are people with strong character and delicate taste.
A small pinch of spice sprinkled on top of the coffee foam or added during the brewing process will give the drink a tart, astringent flavor. Nutmeg is good for men's health, heart function, and brain activity. This coffee perfectly tones the entire body.
Fragrant stars will not only decorate the drink, but also fill it with essential oils. A well-known property of star anise is its ability to eliminate problems with throat diseases, restore a lost voice, and soften a cough. Coffee with star anise can be equated to a medicine that nature itself created.
The spice is also good for the nervous system and stomach function.
The well-known smell and taste of bay leaves are surprisingly combined with the coffee aroma. This drink is prepared to relieve headaches, high blood pressure and depression.
A drink with cumin turns out to be very spicy, as the spice has a bright taste. Lovers of new sensations will enjoy this coffee.
Cumin increases appetite and provokes abundant secretion of gastric juice. It is contraindicated for people suffering from gastritis. Coffee with cumin perfectly calms the nervous system, has anti-inflammatory properties, and freshens breath.
There is probably no person who would not like a drink with saffron. The taste of coffee with this spice is simply fabulous and unusual. The spice goes well with additives such as vanilla, cinnamon, honey.
Saffron is used to calm the nervous system, prevent cancer, and increase immunity.
Coriander is the name given to the seeds of cilantro, which, along with the herbaceous part of the plant, have a persistent aroma and a set of beneficial properties. The spice is most often added to coffee to solve digestive problems and also has a mild laxative effect. Coriander is rich in vitamins and microelements.
Only creative people who are not afraid of experiments can decide to try such a drink. A clove of garlic is usually placed in a turk with all the ingredients. Surprisingly, it does not give the coffee additional bitterness or pungency, but simply fills the drink with unusual flavor notes.
Garlic has many beneficial properties, but it is especially good at preventing colds, cleansing blood vessels, and prolonging life.
You can try making coffee using one of the recipes that uses several types of spices at once.
Moroccan coffee. The drink has a mild spicy taste and is very easy to prepare. In a Turk you need to boil water with cardamom, ground ginger and cinnamon (half a teaspoon of all ingredients). The mixture should brew for a couple of minutes, after which ground coffee and sugar are added to it. Cook until it boils.
Coffee in Tunisian style. It contains a whole bouquet of aromas, suitable for lovers of unexpected combinations. Coffee, sugar and cloves (2-3 pieces) are placed in the pot and brought to a boil. Then cardamom and cinnamon are added. When the foam rises to the top, the Turk is removed from the heat. If you wish, you can not add cinnamon during brewing, but sprinkle it on the finished coffee in a cup.
Arabic coffee. In the East, coffee is drunk several times throughout the day, so the drink is generously flavored with spices to avoid the negative consequences of such frequent consumption of caffeine. First, sugar is melted in a heated pot, then coffee, water, and spices (cinnamon, cardamom, vanillin) are added. The mass is brought to a boil, the Turk is removed from the heat. Then once again you need to return the cezve to the stove and wait for the foam to rise. Coffee is poured into a cup with grounds.
Indian coffee. The drink has an original taste and a rich mixture of aromas. Coffee is brewed in the usual way, adding orange zest to the turk a few seconds before boiling. Spices are added directly to the cup: cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and a little rum.
Don't be afraid to experiment with your favorite drink. Every day can be different, thanks to a cup of coffee with a new, unique taste.
Coffee with saffron and cardamom is memorable for its persistent but not intrusive spicy aroma and bitter-sharp taste with light honey notes. In Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and the Middle East, this drink is considered festive and is served at weddings and other celebrations.
Any Arabica or a blend of Arabica with Robusta will do; you shouldn’t overpay for exclusive blends, because their unique aroma is lost against the background of spices. Instant coffee is definitely a bad option.
Cardamom and saffron can be taken either in ground form (cheaper) or whole. The second option is preferable because the aroma will be richer.
Reviews
Oksana: I buy green grains with cardamom for weight loss. I noticed that my intestinal function has improved, there is no bloating, and I managed to lose 1.5 kg in 10 days. Not bad, considering that I didn’t do anything else and hardly changed my diet.
Anatoly: I walk around energized for 3 hours after a cup of cardamom drink, but I noticed that it makes me want to eat more, apparently it irritates my stomach and the digestive juice is produced more actively, but this is not bad, since it benefits the entire gastrointestinal tract.
Irina: the taste of the drink is so-so, it’s not for everyone, sometimes you can pamper yourself with such exotic things, but for me there is no better recipe than coffee with milk in the morning.
Snezhanna: I always put some spices in the cup; I don’t have a special recipe, much less proportions. I just throw a pinch of ground spice into the pot and brew it. I love the aroma of cardamom, it refreshes my breath, the taste of black pepper, and sometimes I even indulge in cloves.
Basic cooking rules
To prepare coffee in Arabic, a Turk or cezve (a copper vessel with a long handle) is suitable. Ground grains (2 teaspoons) are poured into a bowl and filled with cold water (approximately 80 ml). Some people prefer to bring the drink to a boil. Others wait for the “moment of a thousand streams” - this is the time when the water is saturated with air bubbles before boiling.
Sweet lovers can use sugar 1:2 to ground coffee. It is placed in a cezve and put on fire. The grains should melt completely, turning into a thick syrup. This will give the drink a caramel flavor. After this, the coffee is prepared according to the classic recipe. You can add herbs and spices to the drink.
The Arabs have another popular coffee recipe. Per serving, put two spoons of coffee and one of sugar into the cezve and mix thoroughly. Add 50 ml of water and cook until boiling. As soon as the coffee foam begins to rise, the cezve is removed from the heat and the foam is skimmed off. The procedure is repeated three times in order to extract an incredible aroma and the best taste from the grinding. The drink turns out sweet and strong.
It is recommended to use raw cold water. The vessel for making coffee must have a thick bottom and walls. The drink is brewed over low heat. Ground Arabic coffee should be stored in a cool, unlit place (maybe in the refrigerator) in an airtight container.
Eastern traditions
The combination of coffee and cardamom is truly wonderful and elegant. The secret of the special taste is that the spice is able to reveal and enrich the aroma of coffee beans.
This kind of coffee is very common in Arab countries, where the main traditions of making “black balsam” come from. In the East, in hot climates, the beneficial properties of drinks with cinnamon, cardamom and other spices have long been studied. In eastern countries, spice seeds and coffee beans are first fried in a frying pan to make the taste more intense. Arabs brew coffee in a special container - a Bedouin coffee pot. A cardamom pod is placed in the spout of the coffee pot and coffee is poured into the teapot. When poured, the hot drink comes into contact with the spice and takes away its aroma. This coffee is served to guests as a sign of honor and respect, and at the table they offer sugar and other spices to taste.
According to another option, Arabs brew coffee in a Turkish coffee pot with a whole spice pod, then remove it before drinking.
