Orange Saffron Spice Smoothie – Family Tested and Approved!

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Saffron paired up with its trusty sidekick turmeric, makes for a middle eastern-inspired spice smoothie. This smoothie is so creamy and delicious. You will be amazed!

My husband is from Iran and, through the family, I have learned how to cook many Persian dishes. Most of them include one or both of these two healing spices. I did not grow up using these spices in my home and am so grateful to have learned about them. They have so many health benefits and are a great addition to many dishes as well as teas and desserts.

Now that the kids are home all day, we’ve been on a smoothie kick. My daughter has come up with ideas of her own that we have been making and will share soon. One day my husband said, “Why don’t you make a smoothie with saffron?” We had many ideas and came up with 2 contending saffron smoothie recipes, Saffron Green Smoothie and Orange Saffron Spice Smoothie. The Orange Saffron Spice was the winner! And here it is!

Table of Contents

Saffron and its Benefits

Saffron was first cultivated in the Middle East. The exact location is unknown. Some sources have it documented in Ancient Persia and others in Greece. Saffron is harvested from the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) flower. Saffron comes from the dried stigmas of the flower. The methods of harvesting saffron are very time consuming as they are harvested by hand. Because of this, saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world.

Saffron is known to have many heart health benefits. A 2011 study published by Tehran University states saffron may help lower cholesterol as well as help to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol. Saffron is high in antioxidants, thiamin, and riboflavin, and also has anti-inflammatory effects on the body. All of which increase the blood flow in the circulatory system decreasing the risk of heart disease.

Countries that consume the most saffron have the lowest rates of cardiovascular diseases.

Turmeric and its Benefits

Turmeric was first cultivated in India since ancient times and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Turmeric is the root of a flowering plant called Curcuma longa and is part of the ginger family.

The main active component of turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. A 2017 study published by MDPI states curcumin may help with the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, anxiety, and arthritis. Other studies have shown curcumin may also help with depression, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.

You will not receive health benefits by taking curcumin on its own, as it is not properly absorbed by the body. When curcumin is taken with pepper, bioavailability is increased by 2,000%. Peperine is the active component in pepper that helps this process to take place. Be sure to add a pinch of pepper when cooking or preparing foods with turmeric, just as we did in this recipe here. If you are taking a turmeric supplement, pepper is already one of the ingredients.

How to Grind Saffron

When you purchase saffron, it will come in saffron threads. When using the spice for culinary purposes, it is best to grind the saffron beforehand. Saffron may also be brewed with boiling water and used in recipes that way but for this recipe, we will grind it.

Start with a good pinch of saffron. Using a mortar and pestle, begin to grind the saffron.

Once it begins to reduce in size, add a small pinch of sugar or salt. The coarseness of the sugar or salt will help to grind the saffron into a fine powder.

It is now ready for use. Store in a small jar. We usually grind small amounts at a time and store the remainder of the threads in the freezer until needed.

Orange Saffron Spice Smoothie Tips

We chose to use frozen fruit along with fresh. This helps with the creaminess of the smoothie. You are welcome to use all fresh fruit, but make sure to add some ice with it otherwise, it will have a thinner consistency.
Use a small pinch of pepper to help with the absorption of curcumin from the turmeric.
Any dairy-free milk will work with this recipe. Coconut milk provides a great flavor combination with the spices. For a quick and easy alternative try our DIY Oat Milk recipe.
Optional additions to this recipe include pineapple, lime, lemon, shredded coconut, and cashews.