Can you imagine a better summer treat than an ice-cold homemade iced tea? Today I have a recipe for a fresh and delicious saffron iced tea – آیس تی زعفران. The iced tea with saffron has a very aromatic flavor and lifts your mood. After all, a Persian quote says: “Drink a glass of saffron tea and get happy.”

I prepared the recipe with black tea, but you can also use white tea instead. I don’t recommend Green tea, as it can overpower the fragrance of saffron. You can adjust the sugar level and the ingredients of a homemade iced tea to your taste. Ready-made iced tea from retail stores contains a lot of sugar, flavors, and artificial ingredients. Try my refreshing saffron iced tea and treat your health.

Watch How to Prep Video on Instagram

TAG DES SAFRANS – NATIONAL SAFFRON DAY

Do you also love saffron? It’s “National Saffron Day,” and some bloggers have prepared amazing recipes with saffron for you. We have been celebrating this special day for a few years; Beef Ragout with Saffron and Almonds and Vegan Jeweled Rice Salad are my recipes from the last years. Feel free to check out my colleague’s recipes in German and get inspired.

Küchentraum & Purzelbaum Cantuccini mit Safran – Saffransskorpor

zimtkringel geröstete Safran-Aprikosen mit Wermut

SalzigSüssLecker Zucchini-Safran Küchlein mit Pistazien, Limetten und Zuckerguss

wiesengenuss Safran Risotto mit Schwarzem Knoblauch

Magentratzerl Punjabi Fishcakes mit geschlagener Amchoor-Gurke

Barbaras Spielwiese Kesar Pista Kulfi (Safran-Pistazien-Eis)

USE OF SAFFRON

The best saffron in the world is from Iran, which we call red gold in our country, and Persian gold in Germany. Saffron is called Za’faran in Farsi and means to be yellow, as the most expensive spice in the world colors not only food saffron-yellow but also textiles. Even in ancient times, Persian kings wore clothes dyed with saffron. For centuries, saffron is used to flavor food, dye fabrics, or as an ingredient in perfumes and medicines. Furthermore, it has healing properties as well.

COOKING WITH SAFFRON

In Persian cuisine, we use saffron in many different recipes. When used as a beverage, saffron is a favorite as hot or cold tea, sharbat, and saffron milk. Even in various rice dishes, such as our saffron rice, paella, or risotto, saffron is a perfect match. In meat dishes such as Zereshk Polo ba Morgh – Persian Barberry Rice With Chicken, beef, lamb, seafood, or fish, saffron adds that finishing touch. And in sweet recipes as in Morabay-e Anjir – Fig Jam مربای انجیر, pancakes, PERSIAN LOVE BUNDT CAKE, and Halva Safarani حلوا زعفرانی, such as Bastani Sonati – Persian Saffron Ice Cream, sweet saffron yogurt, and pudding.

You can find a specific category on my blog with quite a lot of recipes that contain saffron. Saffron tastes slightly bitter and semi-sweet. You can buy it either as ground or as saffron threads. I recommend buying saffron threads instead. A type of fraud is using dyes to give saffron a specific color and other spices such as turmeric.

SAFFRON HEALTH BENEFITS

Saffron is a spice and medicine, and has warm and dry properties in Teb-e Sonati, a traditional Persian medicine. Since ancient times saffron has been used to treat a variety of diseases. There are over 150 substances in saffron, especially cronin, crocetin, and safranal. These are considered antioxidant, antidepressant, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory. Saffron has analgesic effects and helps various types of pain.

Please be aware: Saffron turns into poison if consumed more than 20 grams per day. However, this risk is unnecessary as one gram of saffron costs about 10 euros, and we never use more than 0,5 grams in food. Saffron has many properties; I mention here the important and proven ones. My grandmother (Hadj Khanoom) always prepared saffron tea for us when we had lovesick heartache, menstrual cramps, or exams nerves. Depending on the season either in the warm or in the cold version.

SAFFRON BOOSTS YOUR MOOD

Saffron contains vitamins A, B3 and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sulfur, and chloride. It also contains iron, zinc, copper, manganese, fluoride, and iodine. Safranal, in particular, banishes bad moods and is highly recommended in cases of stress, worries, inner restlessness, anxiety disorders, and even depression. Saffron increases serotonin in the body, which has a mood-lifting effect.

BENEFITS OF SAFFRON FOR FEMALES

For women who miss their menses, saffron can help to bring them back. Saffron is also very helpful with any menstrual cramps. The smell of saffron itself affects hormone levels and has a healing effect. Saffron also helps during pregnancy and can be consumed without hesitation. It helps with stress, pain, mood disorders, and pregnancy problems. But saffron also has some harmful effects if taken in large amounts. It can cause premature contractions and should not be taken in large quantities and often during pregnancy. Persians believe eating saffron during pregnancy helps the baby to have lighter skin.

SAFRAN REDUCES CRAVINGS

The consumption of saffron reduces cravings. As a result, hunger is reduced and helps to slim down the body. Saffron reduces appetite and makes you feel satisfied quicker. The bitter substances in saffron strengthen the liver, stimulate digestion, and relieve bloating and heartburn. In addition, saffron boosts the cardiovascular system and cleanses the arteries, which has a positive effect in preventing arteriosclerosis. Saffron also improves the amount of oxygen in the blood.

In addition, saffron is a natural antioxidant that cleanses the body and aids digestion. With a healthy metabolism, fat deposits disappear by themselves. As a result, you’ll burn more calories naturally. However, as always, saffron alone does not make you slim and requires much more, such as a healthy diet, exercise, and enough sleep.

SAFFRON EFFECTS ON DISEASES

Saffron helps with various diseases. For example, you can drink saffron milk to treat hoarseness, cough, and asthma, and you will quickly notice the mucolytic effect. Saffron is also helpful in inflammation, wound healing, and microbial defense. It improves oxygen circulation in the body, including the brain, lungs, and many other parts. In addition, it also promotes concentration and has a positive effect on learning and memory up to Alzheimer’s disease.

Saffron is high in iron, increasing red blood cells and helping to improve blood circulation in the body, making it effective against anemia. As a result, saffron has blood circulation-enhancing properties that can also strengthen the libido and remedy erectile dysfunction in both women and men. The circulatory properties also reduce blood pressure.

Saffron is also helpful for eye diseases such as glaucoma or macular degeneration. It protects the retina because it promotes blood circulation and oxygen supply in the eyes. If you suffer from red or tired eyes after computer work, you can protect your eyes with saffron extract.

Please note: This article contains only general information and should not lead to self-diagnosis or self-treatment. It cannot replace a doctor’s or an alternative medicine practitioner’s visit.

INGREDIENTS SAFFRON ICED TEA

1 tsp saffron threads*

3 tsp black tea*

3 tbsp. sugar

3 cardamom pods*

2 – 3 limes

1 l cold spring water

Ice cubes

8 saffron candy sticks*

PREPARATION SAFFRON ICED TEA

Sprinkle saffron threads over 1 – 2 ice cubes and allow to infuse.

In the meantime, rinse the black tea with cold water. In a tea pot pour 1/2 l of boiling water over the tea, and mix with sugar. Mix well until the sugar dissolves. Crush the cardamom pods and add them to the tea. Let the tea infuse for 10 minutes, then strain and place in the fridge till the tea is well chilled will take about 2 – 3 hours.

Once the tea is chilled, place a few ice cubes in a decanter, add saffron essence, pour only half of the tea for now, and cover with 1 l of cold spring water. Squeeze the juice of one lime and add it to the water. Slice the remaining lime and set aside. You can halve another lime and serve with it on the side, optional. Add an ice cube, a saffron candy stick, and a lime slice to each glass, and top with the saffron iced tea. If you prefer your iced tea to be stronger, add more black tea.

BEFARMAYID!

Susan

The items marked with * are affiliate links, referral links. If you buy through this link, I get a small commission. The price stays the same for you and you can easily support my efforts. A big thank you ♥

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Have you cooked this or maybe another delicious recipe of mine? Feel free to leave me a comment below. If you tag your picture on Instagram with @labsalliebe  and use the hashtag #labsalliebe, I won’t miss a post and will be happy to leave you a comment as well. Can’t wait to see your creations.

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