Yummy recipes, Neotne! If I weren't totally unable to cook... Anyway, I looked here and found out that saffron was imported to Spain by the Muslims in the 8th century. So I guess that it was exotic, yes, but it was not impossible to get some of it. Maybe for the table of nobles? Earlier settlers probably had no knowledge of it unless they met travellers from the Orient. (I suddenly crave some risotto Milanese.)