Safflower Tincture & Alcohol-Free Extract

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is a thistle-like annual of the daisy family, Asteraceae, domesticated in the Fertile Crescent and grown across India, China, Mexico and the American Plains for seed oil and dye. It reaches 30 to 150 cm with stiff, spiny-toothed leaves and globe-shaped flower heads of bright orange to yellow florets that redden as they fade. The florets yield the yellow and red dye carthamin, once a substitute for true saffron, and the white seeds are pressed for oil. We extract the dried petals.