Saffron. Save-on. A Paronym?

The Great Plotnik only wanted to know a little more about saffron, so he did a little research. He discovered a very cool new word in the bargain.

It all started because when he went to Rainbow Grocery the other day to take advantage of their excellent spice selection, he noticed he could buy a tiny vial (1 oz.) of Spanish saffron for $6.95 but a different vial (also 1 oz.) of Persian saffron only cost $3.95.

The Great Fefnik, being Persian herself, gave Plottie a huge supply of Persian saffron last year for Christmas. She said there had been floods in Iran so the saffron supply was limited, but her mother had found a source. Fefnik has always insisted that Persian saffron is the best in the world.

This contradicts what the saffron seller in the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul told Plotnik several years ago. He claimed Persian saffron is often adulterated and that Spanish saffron is the very best. "How about Turkish saffron?" Plotnik asked him, but he said "We get ours from the Persians."

Never mind. Spanish saffron is more easily available here, but often only in powdered form, which is not the best way to buy saffron. Once it is crushed, or powdered, it loses its fragrance and some of its taste, though it keeps its prized ability to yellow all food it comes in contact with, such as Persian (or Spanish) rice.

Saffron is the most valuable and expensive spice in the world, by weight, since it comes from the stamens only of a flower that blooms for a short period and must be hand-harvested by Persian (or Spanish) dwarves (or not).

You can also buy Mexican saffron, but it's not saffron at all. It does have some yellowing qualities but no taste.

The important issue here is that The Great Ducknik has become an absolute Saffroholic. The second Plotnik crumbles his teensy bit of crocus sativa stamens into the simmering water in the rice pot, a happy voice bubbles over from Ducknik's desk: "Are we having saffron rice tonight, Hon-neeee I love you I love you?"

OK, one portion of that sentence was a stretch. But Ducknik does have a phenomenal saffron sniffer.

So now the word. When Plotnik was reading about the origins of the English word "saffron" he discovered it comes from the Spanish azafrán, which comes from an Arabic word which itself is a PARONYM of the Persian word.

A paronym refers to a word which sounds ALMOST the same as another word, but has a different meaning. Like "collusion" and "collision." Or "differ" and "defer." Or "Shrek" and "Schmuck."

What?

Of course, Plotnik bought the Persian saffron for $3.95 instead of the Spanish saffron for $6.95. And guess what? It doesn't smell quite as good nor have the same taste. It's still very good. But Ducknik was sitting at her desk and never said a word.