The Fascinating Journey of India’s Soulful Spice: Turmeric

Indian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines, turmeric is one of the most common spices. Historically, it has been used as a dye, a food preservative, and a medicinal plant that is still widely used as a dietary supplement for various health issues.

What is turmeric spice?

Turmeric is a yellow-orange spice powder made from a tropical perennial plant’s roots. It not only flavours the food but also colours it. Turmeric’s golden hue comes from the naturally occurring bright substance known as “curcumin” in the rhizomes.

Origin

Turmeric is part of the ginger family Zingiberaceae and is native to Southern India and tropical South Asia. It is also known as Hadira in Sanskrit, and its scientific name is Curcuma longa. Rhizomes are subterranean stems that are tuberous, rough, and segmented.

India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter in the world with nearly 80% of global production followed by China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Culinary uses

Turmeric is used as a whole or a powder. Turmeric is one of India’s quintessential spices, alongside cumin, fenugreek, and coriander. It is a vital spice in Indian cuisine, and it’s nearly impossible to find an Indian household without it. It is one of the most commonly used spices in a variety of Indian dishes, including curries, rice, dal, biryani, flavoured rice, pickles, chutneys, and other side dishes. Turmeric is a fundamental component of a lot of spice blends, and one can’t make them without it. Both yellow and white raw turmeric are widely used in pickles. Turmeric leaves are used to wrap sweet dumplings called kai kadubu in Malnad cuisine. In Goan cuisine, there is a similar dish called patholi, with slight differences.

In Indonesia, white turmeric powder is often used in curry dishes. This golden spice has not only been used in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines but gained massive popularity worldwide for it’s immense health benefits. Lately, it is widely used in drinks in the popular multinational coffeehouse Starbucks, available as golden turmeric latte or iced golden ginger drink. Tempted to try turmeric latte? visit our restaurant Sanskruti to enjoy the freshly made warming turmeric latte along with the best Indian food in Manchester.

What does turmeric taste like?

Turmeric has an intense earthy and bitter flavour with subtle citrus notes. Turmeric tastes absolutely unpleasant on its own but adds a flavour, aroma and bright colour to the dish when used along with other ingredients.

Varieties of turmeric

Yellow Turmeric: A very popular and widely available spice with immense health benefits and culinary uses. Among the various types of yellow turmeric grown locally in India, a few popular types are

Lakadong: It is the most superior quality turmeric, primarily due to the high curcumin content grown in Northeast Indian state Meghalaya. This variety has 7-12% curcumin compared to 2-5% in other varieties.
Alleppey: This variety is grown in southernmost state Kerala in a town called Alleppey. It is mostly used as a colouring agent and as a source of medicine.
Madras: A variety with deep orange yellow hue most commonly used in the culinary industry.
Erode: The “city of Erode,” located in southern Indian state Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of turmeric in the world. This city is also known as “turmeric city” or “yellow city”. This variety is known for it’s high medicinal values.
Sangli: This city in Maharashtra is the second largest producer. This variety has a deep orange colour and is often used for medicinal purposes.
Nizamabad: Another variety of turmeric that’s grown in the Southern state Telangana. It has a classic yellow colour.

Black Turmeric: Scientifically known as Curcuma Ceasia, is a rare herb with a blackish blue interior and a brown hard outer layer cultivated in the northeastern and central part of India. It is also called black zedoary or kali haldi in the Indian language. It has a higher concentration of curcuma than yellow turmeric and has similar health benefits and cultural significance.

White Turmeric: Scientifically known as Curcuma zedoaria is a herb with a white interior and a brown outer layer that resembles ginger in appearance and flavour and has a fragrance similar to mango.

Health benefits

For centuries, turmeric has been considered nature’s most potent healer in Ayurveda mainly due to its anti inflammatory properties. It has also been an integral element of Siddha, Unanu, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Turmeric can assist with numerous problems, including poor digestion, colds and respiratory issues, lowering cholesterol levels, tackling skin problems, reducing inflammation, fighting injury, treating skin problems, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Religious significance of turmeric

Turmeric has a more significant spiritual and religious significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, and many South Asian cultures. In addition to Asian countries, Hawaiian shamans use it for religious purposes.

Turmeric represents auspiciousness and holiness in Hinduism. It is used in every auspicious occasion, and no auspicious occasion takes place without turmeric. During the wedding ceremony, the groom ties the turmeric-dyed thali (mangalsutra) around the bride’s neck to signify the marital bond. It is also used in performing pooja on special occasions or during festivals.

Turmeric paste is used to anoint the deities as well as the sacred dried tubers used in rituals. In Buddhism, yellow is connected with purity and prosperity, and monks wear yellowish orange robes that have been dyed with turmeric.

A list of a few popular dishes with turmeric

Turmeric Milk: Also called haldi doodh or golden milk is this warming drink made of turmeric, milk, crushed pepper and warm spices. It is most preferred during winter to soothe sore throat and relief from cold and cough. Click here to get the recipe.

Lemon rice: Turmeric is the key ingredient to make lemon rice. It imparts the classic yellow colour.

Sfouf: A Lebanese semolina turmeric cake that is usually served with evening tea. Get the recipe here.

Thai Yellow Curry: A very popular thai curry wherein turmeric is a key ingredient that gives the bright yellow colour to the dish. Check out the recipe here.