Turmeric FAQs
What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a spice commonly used as an important ingredient in most commercial curry powders. Turmeric is also used to give a yellow color to some prepared mustards.
What is origin of turmeric?
It is believed that turmeric is originates from South or Southeast Asia, from western India.
What is the history of Turmeric?
Turmeric is an ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring. In the 13th century, Marco Polo, writing about his travels in China, described Turmeric: There is also a vegetable which has all the properties of the true saffron, as well as the color, and yet it is not really saffron. It is also used as an ingredient in many dishes. Turmeric has a long history of medicinal use in South Asia, mentioned in Sanskrit medical dissertation and widely used in Ayurvedic systems. Susruta's Ayurvedic Compendium in 250 BC recommends an ointment containing turmeric to relieve the food poison effect.
What is the Botanical name of Turmeric?
Curcuma longa L is the Botanical name of Turmeric.
In which family Turmeric belongs to?
Turmeric belongs to Zingiberaceae family.
What is Curcumin?
Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric which has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic effects. Curcumin is known for its antitumor, antioxidant, anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is also known as tumeric or curcumin.
What is Rhizome?
Rhizome is an Underground stem that grows horizontally. In botany, rhizome is underground, horizontal stem of a plant that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes.
What type of weather suitable for turmeric crop?
Turmeric needs hot and humid climate to prosper and it generally grows on light black or red soils that are clayey in nature. The rootstalk is sown in around the spring season. The harvesting of this plant is done when the leaves of this plant start turning yellowish after 7 to 10 months of plantation.
What is the best period for harvesting?
In India harvesting season of turmeric is December to March.
How Turmeric Powder is prepared?
The fingers and rhizomes of turmeric are boiled separately for 30-40 minutes until bubbles and white fumes come out, then drained and dried in the sun for 10 to 15 days, until they become dry and hard. The dry turmeric then cleaned and polished mechanically in a drum rotated by hand or by power to make powder.
It is necessary to care raw turmeric rhizomes freshly unearth for its attractive yellow colour and the characterized aroma. Without proper care turmeric lacks both.
Which part of turmeric is used for culinary purpose?
The rhizome or root of turmeric plant is used to make turmeric spice. The rhizome is boiled and then let to dry. The rough skins are removed and grounded to make a fine rich yellow turmeric powder. Turmeric is natural preservative. When added to Indian delicacies such as curry and rice, it gives a rich color and slight flavor to food. Turmeric combines well with spices such as chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin, and cinnamon.
What are culinary uses of turmeric?
It is one of the principle ingredients of curry powder. It can be used as a substitute for saffron. In India turmeric is used as a condiment. It is used to flavour and colour butter, cheese, margarine, pickles, mustard, liquor, fruit drinks, cakes, table jellies, fruit dishes, other foodstuffs and also as a food adjunct in many vegetables, meat and fish preparations. Turmeric oil and oleoresin is also used to impart the flavour in food and perfume industries. It adds a warm, mild aroma and distinctive yellow colour to foods.
What is kunkuma?
Kunkuma, a red powder made of turmeric and lime.
Kunkuma is worn by Hindu woman as the ‘bindi’ dot, on the forehead at the point of the third eye; small dot of kunkuma worn on the forehead between the eyebrows, or in the middle of the forehead. The red color is a sign of marriage. The ‘bindi’ is also a beauty mark worn by Hindu women.
Are there any side effects of Turmeric?
The FDA classifies Turmeric as GRAS (General Recognition of Safety).
From thousand of years Turmeric has been used with no side effects. Studies have also shown that Curcumin even in large quantities does not produce any known side effects in humans.
What are Medicinal benefits of using turmeric?
To heal many health disorders like liver problems, digestive disorders, treatment for skin diseases, wound healing, atherosclerosis, bacterial infection, and eye disorder turmeric has long been used in Medicinal as an anti-inflammatory.
What are the uses of Turmeric in Ayurvedic?
The main organs that turmeric treats are the skin, heart, liver and lungs. Turmeric is used for epilepsy and bleeding disorders, skin diseases; to purify the body-mind is the most common use of Turmeric in Ayurveda. Turmeric reduces fevers, diarrhea, urinary disorders, and insanity, poisoning, cough, and lactation problems.
Which country has highest production of Turmeric?
Turmeric’s highest production is in India. Approximately 90% of world’s total production is in India. India is the major exporter of Turmeric.
Which are the other major countries produces Turmeric?
India, Taiwan, Various Pacific islands, Central and Latin American countries, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
Is turmeric useful in removing pimples or blackheads?
Turmeric is very effective in removing blackhead. A pinch of turmeric powder mixed with one teaspoon of coriander juice is an effective remedy for pimples, blackheads and dry skin.
How Turmeric is used in improve skin complexion?
Make a paste of Besan, Dahi, pinch of turmeric powder, some drops of lemon, apply this paste on face. Keep until it dry. Daily use of it will definitely improve skip tone as well as removed blackheads.
Is Turmeric used in Cosmetic Products?
Nowadays turmeric is extensively used in cosmetic products to prepare natural and herbal creams, lotion, hair dye and many other beauty products. As herb, turmeric has been used for centuries for seasoning, but through a series of complex extraction and isolation processes, it will soon be given further potential as a substance to support the medical as well as the cosmetics industries.
How to store Turmeric Powder?
Turmeric’s color properties is everlasting but flavour and aroma is loss quickly if not store properly. Store it in airtight containers away from sunlight. Store it in cool, dark, dry places.
Which are the famous varieties of Turmeric?
Some famous varieties of Turmeric are Local Haldi, China scented, Thodopuza, Red streaked, Alleppey. In which Alleppey is more popular in American Markets. It is deeper in color and more flavorful. In India there are many other popular varieties of turmeric like 'Alleppey Finger' in Kerala, 'Erode and Salem turmeric' in TamilNadu, 'Rajapore' and 'Sangli turmeric' in Maharashtra, 'Nizamabad Bulb' in Andhra Pradesh.