Safflower is a relatively mild spice that gives a yellow-orange color to foods similar in hue to the affect of turmeric. Its mild profile features a rich sweet aroma that doesn't dissipate when cooked and a delicate floral flavor with earthy notes. Safflower petals are used in rice dishes where it supplies flavor and good color.
It is sometimes used as a substitute for the much more expensive saffron; though it's flavor isn't as as intense or distinctive. Saffron is also much more potent and a great quantity of safflower is required to achieve similar flavor levels as in very small quantities of saffron. It is a suitable substitute when color is the primary objective.
It is frequently used where it can be infused in a liquid and is popular in some cultures in this way as it gives color to soups, sauces, and teas.