Wood shavings float and added colour will colour water. Shake a small portion in cold water. A reddish brown precipitate is formed when hydrochloric acid is gently mixed with ferric chloride solution if Argemone oil is present. Dissolve one teaspoonful of sugar in 10 c.c. of hydrochloric acid, and 10 c.c. of the melted ghee and shake thoroughly for one minute. The normal milk values will fall between 1.030 and 1.034.
Genuine saffron dissolves easily in water giving the aroma of saffron.
If the water extract is dried and a rod dipped in sulphuric acid is drawn across the surface, a blue colour which immediately turns purple and then reddish-brown indicates pure saffron. It will have a gritty feel in the mouth if these are present. Pure sago swells on burning and hardly leaves any ash. The wood shavings will float and the added colour will come off in the water. Pure asafoetida burns with a bright flame on ignition.