Yet saffron is mentioned in ancient Chinese medical texts , including the forty-volume pharmacopoeia titled `` Shennong Bencaojing '' ( 神農本草經 : `` Shennong 's Great Herbal '' , also known as `` Pen Ts ` ao '' or `` Pun Tsao '' ) , a tome dating from 300 -- 200 BC .
On the other hand , saffron is mentioned in ancient Chinese medical texts , including the forty-volume `` Shennong Bencaojing '' ( 神農本草經 -- `` Shennong 's Great Herbal '' , also known as `` Pen Ts ` ao '' or `` Pun Tsao '' ) pharmacopoeia , a tome dating from 200 -- 300 BC .