Discovering Saffron in Valnerina – with tasting

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Discovering Saffron in Valnerina – with tasting

Discover the region’s lilac gold: saffron. Get to know it, to love it but above all... to taste it!

The picture-book Valnerina river-valley awaits you with a plethora of exciting, sensory-stimulating experiences! Exploring Umbria offers you the chance to sample a number of them on an excursion in the open air and in perfect harmony with Valnerina’s nature, whilst hot on the heels of the precious spice, saffron. The vivid lilac colour of its flowers will light up your eyes and their intense fragrance will make you feel almost drunk with delight. You’ll admire huge carpets of flowers arranged in long rows, in a vast expanse creating a unique spectacle of colour and light. Our experts will guide you on a journey in Valnerina in which you’ll learn about the various phases of saffron’s life cycle and the subsequent phases of harvesting the delicate flowers and extracting the precious red ‘gold’.

You’ll touch the flowers, learning that the skimming procedure must be performed slowly and carefully so as not to spoil the product; the precious red threads become separated from the rest of the flower and the drying and spice-production process follows. You’ll be surprised to learn about the history of saffron, linked to different peoples and cultures and amazed by the unusual facts and anecdotes surrounding it; you’ll also discover its multiple uses and properties, which were already known to our ancient ancestors.

The excursion will close with a tasting of saffron and other local or naturally-growing products during lunch or dinner (depending on whether you choose the morning or afternoon option) that will be on offer immediately after the excursion

Why not choose to explore the story of saffron and visit this ‘educational’ farm? A unique and exciting day out, alone or with friends or family. And for children, the history of saffron will revealed through the entertaining medium of theatre.

Plan

1
Visit to the saffron field
2
guide to flower identification
3
guide to the sensory experience
4
the saffron made products
5
meal (lunch or dinner) made with saffron based product and food farmed by the agriturism

Recommended clothing

We recommend comfortable or casual clothing. You’ll be walking in fields full of flowers, so leave your smart shoes at home.
Bring a windcheater/anorak with you, even if the activity takes place in the summer months.
We recommend you wear trekking footwear.

Included

Expert guide
Lunch/dinner based on the harvest collected during the excursion + typical local products. 2 courses + drinks

Not Included

Everything that’s not listed under the heading ‘what is included’.

Time

The activity will last about 5 hours.

Languages

Italian
English
French

When

You will be able to participate in this activity throughout the year, but the experiences you have will differ according to the specific phase of cultivation of the Saffron:
from October to November: you will see the flowering;
from November to April: you will admire the growing plants;
from April to October: you will see the planting of the bulbs;

Children

This activity is also suitable for children.

Pet policy

You can enjoy this experience in the company of your four-legged friend.

Requirements

Get ready to learn and have fun.

Impaired mobility

The activity is also suitable for people with motor or other disabilities. In any case, we invite you to discuss your needs with our staff. If you find out that the experience is not suited to you (or others in your group) we will be happy to offer you an alternative activity or a full refund.

Additional Information

We strongly advise you to bring a camera to take photos of the spectacle of nature that will appear before you.

Important

This activity can only be undertaken in favourable weather conditions, which will be evaluated by our partner and confirmed 48 hours in advance. In case of poor weather conditions we will immediately contact you and propose an alternative activity or a refund of the price paid.
This activity is subject to our operators’ availability. We have a large selection of collaborators capable of leading this activity, but if on the day you selected we do not have operators availabile, we will immediately, or in any case within 48 hours of booking, suggest an alternative activity you might wish to do or the choice of receiving a full refund of the price paid.
The times indicated in the program are indicative and may vary according to your requests or those of the other participants in the group. These are always and in any case previously agreed with our staff or with the guide.

Data sheet

Recommended clothing

We recommend comfortable clothing

Trekking footware

Windcheater/anorak

Included

Expert guide

Two-course lunch drinks included

Lunch/dinner based on the harvest collected during the excursion + typical local products

Not included

Everything that’s not listed under the heading ‘what is included’.

Time

5 hours

Languages

Italian

English

When

You will be able to participate in this activity throughout the year, but the experiences you have will differ according to the specific phase of cultivation of the Saffron. From October to November you will see the flowering; from November to April you will admire the growing plants; from April to October you will see the planting of the bulbs.

Requirements

Get ready to learn and have fun

Suitable for children

This activity is also suitable for children.

Suitable for people with motor disabilities

In any case, we invite you to discuss your needs with our staff. If you find out that the experience is not suited to you (or others in your group) we will be happy to offer you an alternative activity or a full refund.

Pets are allowed

If easily managed

We invite you to liaise with our staff to check whether you can bring along your four-legged friend.

Additional information

We strongly advise you to bring a camera to take photos of the spectacle of nature that will appear before you.

Important

This activity can only be undertaken in favourable weather conditions, which will be evaluated by our partner and confirmed 48 hours in advance. In case of poor weather conditions we will immediately contact you and propose an alternative activity or a refund of the price paid.

This activity is subject to our operators’ availability. We have a large selection of collaborators capable of leading this activity, but if on the day you selected we do not have operators availabile, we will immediately, or in any case within 48 hours of booking, suggest an alternative activity you might wish to do or the choice of receiving a full refund of the price paid.

The times shown in the program are indicative and may vary according to your requests or those of the other participants in the group. These are always and in any case previously agreed with our staff or with the guide.

Always communicate through Exploring Umbria to ensure you receive the best bespoke service to suits your requirements. In order to protect your payments, never transfer money via channels outside the Exploring Umbria website.

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