saffron as a colorant
Judy Glattstein (Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:23:33 PST)

Saffron was, in the Middle Ages, the source of a yellow dye used in
manuscript illumination. A pinch of saffron was infused with glair, an
egg-white glue, to produce a transparent yellow glaze sometimes used as
a substitute for gold. As well, it was used as a hair dye. Its supposed
medicinal attributes - a cure for plague, madness, melancholia, and
toothache.

Judy in New Jersey where Indian summer is offering a final few golden
days before cold weather arrives to stay