Spain’s Saffron Rose Fiesta
Spain celebrates the tradition of saffron cultivation in the region of La Mancha during a festival October 27 and 28, 2018.
The celebration centers on Consuegra, in the province of Toledo (part of Castile-La Mancha), pointing to beginnings in 1183 under King Alfonso VIII. Saffron cultivation in La Mancha goes back to the Middle Ages, when it was introduced as a complement to traditional agriculture then dominated by cereal, grape vines, and olive groves.
Highlights include the “Grinding of Peace and Love”, where a 16th-century windmill grinds wheat to make flour; the traditional La Mancha gastronomy event; the Saffron Rose harvesting competition, where participants have to separate the saffron from the flower in the least time possible; and a Folk Festival with groups from all over the Region. Saffron-producers are,of course, the stars of this fiesta, which has been held since 1963.
(Photo courtesy of Tourist Office of Spain)
