Turmeric, that beautifully colored root that is so often paired with ginger, they are cousins after all, and is closely associated with the Indian culture. Other than its growing popularity in the health industry (in America, anyway), I didn’t know much about this gorgeous root.
A little about turmeric….
The plant itself is a tropical perennial native to India, which remains the largest producer and exporter of Turmeric. Other notable producers are Indonesia, the Caribbean, and South America.
There are actually two types of turmeric, Madras and Alleppey.
Madras Turmeric
Madras is primarily grown in Tamil Nadu, India. The turmeric that is grown there is named after the city, where it was historically traded. The city of Madras is now known as Chennai.
The second type is…
Alleppey Turmeric
Alleppey’s name is also derived from its home in the Alleppey district and comes from Kerala.
To ground both types of turmeric, the root is usually boiled to shorten drying time, sliced, dried, and then ground into a fine powder.
While most powder found in stores is of the Madras variety, Alleppey is considered to be of higher quality. It is darker and contains a higher concentration of curcumin (4%-7%). Making this the ideal variety for a more robust flavor and higher health value.
Whereas Madras is lighter in color and contains about 3.5% curcumin.
What the heck is curcumin, you might ask? Curcumin is a natural substance that gives turmeric its color. It can also contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
History
Marco Polo compared turmeric to saffron and suggested they were interchangeable.
Yeah, I didn’t buy it either. Other than being brightly colored and used as a natural dye, the two have nothing in common.
The path turmeric had to travel to get to where it is today is a long one. Subcontinent caravans from India traded with Assyrians and Sumerians in Asia Minor. In the 7th century CE, Dhows carried it eastward to China. Somewhere in the 8th century CE, turmeric was being traded west across the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, making it to Yemen and East Africa. From there, it traveled across Sub-Saharan Africa using caravan routes controlled by Berber, Bedouin, and Jewish traders.
For those that don’t know what a dhow is, cause I sure didn’t know! They are traditional Arabian ships.
Uses
Turmeric is essential in Indian curries and pairs well with veggies, lentils, rice, noodles, seafood, and poultry.
Because curcumin also possesses antimicrobial properties, turmeric is used as a preservative as it inhibits bacterial growth. Making it ideal for pickles.
Morocco, the Middle East, Nepal, and South Asia also use turmeric in many of their cultural dishes.
Turmeric’s rich color is used for more than just fabric, it is used to color cheeses and mustard. Next time you are in the store, take a look at the ingredients in mustard, turmeric is usually there as the source of its bright yellow color.
Medicinal
**The information on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.**
Turmeric has proven to be an important part of Ayurvedic medicine. Turmeric has been used to aid GI discomfort and to promote digestive health. Believed to be a remedy for liver disease. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric infused oinments and creams have been used treat joint pain. The same topical solutions take advantage of turmeric’s antiseptic properties and are also used to treat minor cuts and burns. It has also been used to stave off degenerative illnesses associated with aging.
What is Ayurvedic medicine?
For more information on Ayurvedic medicine. Check out this article.
As with all medical practices and beliefs, there are advisories and precautions. Learn more here.
Recipes
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
Discover more spices, herbs, and blends we’ll be exploring this year.
Until our next stop…
Bibliograph
Greer, Tasha. (2021) Grow Your Own Spices. Quatro Publishing Group USA Inc.
Nabhan, Gary Paul. (2014) Cumin, Camels, and Caravans: A Spice Odyssey. University of California Press.
Lakshmi, Padma. (2016) The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World. Ecco Publishing.
Daily, J.W., Yang, M. & Park, S. (2016). Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Journal of Medicinal Foods, 19(8), 717-7129.
E. Smith, B.T., Giliespe, M., Eckl, V., Knepper, J., & Morton. C. (2019) 2018 ABC Herbal Sales Market Report, 62-73 Retrieved from www.herbalgram.com
Abraham, S., Haylett, W.L., Johnson, G., Carr, JA., & Bardien. S. (2019). Antioxidant effects of curcumin in models of neurodegeneration, again, oxidative, and nitrosative stress: A Review. Neuroscience, 406, 1-21.
“Tamil Nadu.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25, Nov. 2025, 7:38 a.m., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Nadu#. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025,
Websites sited:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ayurveda
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurvedic-medicine-in-depth