Join food historian Sam Bilton for tea as she explores the farming and culinary history of this spice in England and enjoy some historical saffron tasters made from recipes in her book ‘Fool’s Gold’.

Saffron ‘is a herb of the Sun’ (Nicholas Culpeper 1653) and has delighted us with its golden hues throughout the ages. It was the darling of the Medieval kitchen, the saviour of the apothecary’s chest and gave cloth a regal glow. Unlike many spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, saffron can be successfully grown in England.

From the middle ages through to the eighteenth century there was a thriving saffron industry in this country. Some even claimed English saffron was the best to be found in the world. Although the domestic industry died out in the nineteenth century it has recently been revived.

Booking Information:

• Tickets are £35 per person and include entry to the Garden, two historical saffron bakes and a cup of tea.
• Please note that there are no discounts for Friends of the Garden.
• All of the items on this menu are vegetarian but contain dairy and gluten. Unfortunately, on this occasion we cannot cater for any specific dietary requirements or allergies.
• This event will take place in our first floor ‘Gallery’ space. Unfortunately, the Gallery space is not wheelchair accessible. The Gallery can be accessed via a narrow 22-step staircase with a handrail. Please email  if you would like to discuss accessibility.

Speaker Bio:

Sam Bilton

Food historian, writer and presenter Sam Bilton has been intrigued by spices most of her life. Her first book on the history of gingerbread won a World Gourmand Cookbook award in 2021. Fool’s Gold: A History of British Saffron is Sam’s second book and her third The Philosophy of Chocolate will be published in October 2023. Sam presents the Comfortably Hungry podcast and is a frequent contributor to national magazines, food festivals, television and radio.

For further information visit sambilton.com or follow Sam on Instagram @mrssbilton.