Krokos Kozanis, the gold of Greek land as it is called, is one of the most popular and precious spices of the ancient cultures, on account of its essence, color, pharmaceutical and aphrodisiac qualities. Cleopatra used it in her cosmetics, the ancient Finicians in their offers to goddess Astarte. Homer mentions it in his scripts while it is also found in the Old Testament.
Its history in modern Greece starts when merchants of Kozani carry it from Austria, in the 17th century. For three hundred years Krokos has been cultivated and grown under the sun of Macedonia, in a region that includes many small villages of the Kozani Prefecture.