In the 17th century saffron was grown in the Charente from Champniers to Balzac, Brie and Mansle and saffron in Champniers was officially recognised by Louis XIV. About 1,000kg was harvested each season and each December a foire was held in which buyers came from around the world. But then a series of hard winters – temperatures dropped to -20°C – that destroyed the bulbs as well as industrialisation which saw people move to the cities, and a switch in agriculture to wheat and vineyards, saw saffron disappear.
In 2003 a group of growers banded together – called SAFRAN – to start a saffron revival and today there is an annual Saffron Festival each August in Champniers where you can buy saffron products and find out more. See it also at the Gastronamades food festival in Angoulême and a select markets in the area.