Turmeric Origins
Turmeric is a very common spice from the root, Curcuma longa. The orange yellow powder we see in supermarkets and shops around the world is this root which has been dried and milled. Turmeric is from the ginger family and grows as a rhizome below the ground.
Characteristics
The ground powder is bright yellow and has a dry, fragrant aroma and a warm, peppery, bitter, earthy flavour. It can be sourced in root form but its usually found as the bright yellow powder we all know and love.
Turmeric Characteristics
The fresh bright orange root has a thin skin, like that of ginger which needs to be removed and the root may be grated, sliced or diced and added to foods.
The flavour of fresh Turmeric root is more peppery and works well in fruit shots or as a pickled condiment.
The ground powder has a musky and fragrant aroma with a warm, slightly bitter, earthy flavour.
Turmeric Uses
It’s been used for centuries for food colouring and flavouring mainly in Indian inspired cuisine and in Ayurvedic supplements. Consequently, it’s a main ingredient of curry powder and is often used in combination with other spices. Turmeric can also be used to rub into meat before roasting or barbecuing and added to foods like eggs and rice. It also makes a comforting beverage when added to warm milk.
Turmeric paste is also used as a topical anti- bacterial and antiseptic and is sometimes mixed with lemon and honey to sooth a cough or sore throat.
A vibrant golden paste made with Turmeric is used in traditional Hindu pre-wedding ceremonies on the skin of the bride and groom as it signifies good luck and fertility and promotes a glowing skin.
Turmeric is usually added as a fresh root or dry spice in culinary applications and whilst the extract and oleoresin forms are available to the product developer and food manufacturer, the type of format used in product formulations will depend on the product application and processing parameters.
Food manufacturers are using Turmeric in almost all categories of foods, from breakfast cereals to latte and snacks. Fruit shots and smoothies containing Turmeric are also very popular.
Turmeric Benefits
Recently, turmeric has become immensely popular ingredient in food product development in the food and nutritional supplement sectors globally, owing to its very long list of health promoting benefits.
One of its active components is a phenolic compound called Curcumin present in the bright orange root which is reported to deliver good antioxidant and anti- inflammatory functions.
