Short answer: To make a glass of saffron water, put 3–5 saffron threads in a glass (about 250ml) of hot but not boiling water, and leave it for 10–20 minutes until the water turns golden. Drink it warm, or let it cool and add ice. Add a little honey or lemon if you like.
Saffron water is a popular drink in Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and the Arab world. This guide explains how to make it, how many threads to use, six saffron drinks to try, and how much is too much.
What is saffron water?
Saffron water (air saffron in Malay) is simply saffron threads steeped in hot water. It has a golden colour, a floral aroma and a slightly bitter, honey-like taste. Many people drink a glass every day as a drink, on its own or with honey.
How to make it, step by step
- Heat the water until it is hot but not boiling, about 70–80°C. If it has boiled, wait 2–3 minutes.
- Put 3–5 saffron threads in the glass. For more colour, crumble the threads between your fingers first.
- Pour the hot water over and cover the glass so the aroma stays in.
- Leave it for 10–20 minutes, until the water turns golden to orange.
- Drink it warm, or cool it and add ice. You can eat the threads too.
Tip: threads that have already been steeped still have some colour. You can pour hot water over them once more, but the second glass will be lighter.
How many threads?
| Amount | Saffron |
|---|---|
| One glass (250ml) | 3–5 threads |
| One jug (1 litre) | 12–15 threads |
| A large flask for a gathering or iftar (2–3 litres) | 30–40 threads |
One gram of saffron is roughly 400–500 threads, so a 1g pack makes about 100 glasses of saffron water.
Six saffron drinks to try
1. Saffron water with honey and lemon
Make basic saffron water. When it has cooled a little, stir in 1 teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Don’t add honey to very hot water.
2. Saffron milk (susu saffron)
Warm a glass of milk without boiling it. Add 3–5 saffron threads and one crushed cardamom pod, leave for 10 minutes, then sweeten with honey or sugar.
3. Persian saffron sharbat (cold)
Make a strong saffron water with 10 threads in half a glass of hot water. Mix it with 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of rose water, the juice of half a lemon and a glass of cold water. Serve with ice. It is lovely for Hari Raya and gatherings.
4. Kashmiri kahwa
For two glasses: boil 2 glasses of water with a cinnamon stick and 2 crushed cardamom pods for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, add 1 teaspoon of green tea and 5–6 saffron threads, and leave for 3 minutes. Strain and serve with honey and slivered almonds.
5. Arabic coffee with saffron (gahwa)
Brew light-roast Arabic coffee with cardamom. Put 3–4 saffron threads in the serving pot or cups and pour the coffee over them. It is usually served with dates.
6. Saffron iced tea
Make a jug of saffron water (12–15 threads in 1 litre). Add 1–2 green or black tea bags for 3 minutes, remove them, sweeten with honey and chill in the fridge.
For the family, iftar or a gathering
- Steep the saffron in one glass of hot water first, then add it to the jug or flask, so the colour is even.
- For the best taste, drink it on the day you make it.
- Keep it in glass or stainless steel, not a plastic bottle in the sun.
Common mistakes
- Boiling water. It dulls the aroma.
- Too many threads. The drink turns bitter. Start with 3.
- Powder of unknown quality. It is harder to tell whether powder is pure. Buy threads.
- Rushing. In less than 10 minutes you won’t get the full colour and aroma.
How much is too much?
A glass made with 3–5 threads contains only about 10mg of saffron. A fact-check by The Star in October 2026 noted that up to about 1.5g a day is generally considered safe, and that more than about 5g a day has been linked to serious side effects (The Star). One or two glasses of saffron water a day are far below these levels.
Who should be careful?
- Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers
- People taking medication, including blood-thinning medicines
- Anyone with a health condition
If any of these apply to you, speak to your doctor before drinking saffron water regularly. Saffron water is a drink, not a medicine. This article is general information, not medical advice. Read more in our article on the benefits of saffron and what research says.
Which saffron should you use?
For saffron water, buy whole, deep red threads, so you get good colour and aroma and can see that the saffron is pure. Super Negin contains only the red part of the stigma, so fewer threads give more colour. Learn the signs of real saffron in our guide on how to tell real saffron from fake, and see saffron prices in Malaysia.
Frequently asked questions
How many saffron threads for one glass?
3–5 threads.
Should I use hot or cold water?
Hot (not boiling) water releases the colour faster. Cold water also works, but takes a few hours.
Can I soak saffron in the fridge overnight?
Yes, but it tastes best on the day you make it.
Can I drink saffron water every day?
One or two glasses made with 3–5 threads are far below the amount generally considered safe for most people. If you are pregnant, taking medication or have a health condition, speak to your doctor first.
Can I eat the threads?
Yes, they are edible.
When is the best time to drink it?
There is no special time; it’s up to you. Many people drink it in the morning or after a meal.
More ways to use saffron: how to use saffron and four easy saffron recipes.