Consuegra and saffron

Giant and windmills of Don Quixote and a flower in La Mancha

Saffron is one of the hallmarks of La Mancha and therefore also of Consuegra, in fact, we could consider that, together with Don Quixote, Manchego cheese and the landscape of windmills, it is a good reason to take a trip to a destination like our city. And although this year the Covid - 19 has not let us celebrate it as we liked it, we leave you this small post so that next year you can make a hole in your calendar.

The flowering of the spice occurs, as a usual rule, during the last week of October and the first of November. In these 15 days, the Saffron Rose floods the fields of La Mancha, staining itself in an immense purple color. The green of the vines has not yet disappeared and the olive grove is overflowing with olives.

The fog of time covers how the bulbs came to the peninsula, but what we do know is that Consuegra and saffron joined in their paths more than a thousand years ago. The spice could come from the Far East with the Arabs, at that historical moment of expansion of Islam, or it was introduced by the Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem when Alfonso VIII donated the castle of Consuegra and all its alfoz to the order in 1183. The Order founded villas, built castles, in Consuegra it had its palace and its headquarters in the old kingdom of Castilla y León, put the crops in order and began the repopulation of La Mancha Alta, a geographical area that, by chance, resulted From the imagination of Cervantes, it became the setting for Don Quixote.

Returning to saffron, the truth is that the crop is here to stay and perfectly adapted to the La Mancha climate. We could well say that it fit like a glove in the agricultural calendar, since the saffron harvest occurs just after the end of the vineyard harvest and before the cereal is sown.

In that distant Middle Ages, saffron was already used as a dye for clothes, as a condiment and even as a natural dye to achieve the yellow and orange that the scribes used to illuminate medieval codices.

The perfect symbiosis between landscape and peasantry that occurs in Consuegra has a very special facet since this spectacle of nature is incomplete if it is not tasted. Tasting its flavor, wrapping yourself in its scent and marveling at its color is an experience not to be missed even once in your life. We are sure that in the letters or menus of any Consaburense restaurant you will find, without problem, a specialty of the house in which saffron is the protagonist.

This traditional cultivation has continued in Consuegra to this day, without losing an iota of its authenticity. So deeply rooted is this tradition that in 1963 the Saffron Rose Festival was instituted, a pioneer in its genre and held on the last weekend of October in Consuegra. In addition to the saffron fields, the meeting with local producers, fashion contests and the national folklore festival, organized by the group of choirs and dances "Rosa del Azafrán" are some of the events that can be enjoyed during these days.

Consuegra offers the traveler this opportunity to enter the land of Don Quixote, stroll through its mills, return to the Middle Ages with its castle, stroll through its streets while the aroma of the spice floods the visitor.

From October 24 to November 28, Consuegra offers you a unique experience in Castilla - La Mancha, enjoying the creations made by the chefs of Consuegra with saffron. Pairing with the spice, they are accompanied by cod, sirloin, rabbit, rice, sweets and liqueurs that will make you taste the thousand-year-old spice in a thousand and one ways.

Autumn is always a very grateful season in Consuegra, not only for its excellent temperature, and for its sunsets, it is also a good time to taste products such as marzipan that begins its production at this time, the wines have just been made and are It begins with the olive harvest and, just around the corner, the chives that are consumed here as calçots also await.

The experience is not complete without looking for a good place to stay and taking a guided tour of the city's heritage. All this in a comfortable and simple way since Consuegra has excellent road communications and great professionals who will make your stay in the city an unforgettable trip, especially if at sunset you go up to enjoy one of the magical moments of the city watching the sunset among the most beautiful giants in La Mancha, likewise sunrise also envelops the place in a special halo. Everything very close to you, do not think about it and enjoy the moment.

Practical information:

• Guided tours of the Consuegra Town Hall: information and reservations 925475731. Price € 7 adults, € 3.5 children from 12 to 7 years and children under 7 years free.
• Where to eat:  https://www.consuegra.es/en/taste/where-to-eat
• Where to sleep:  https://www.consuegra.es/en/rest