Turmeric Powder
Turmeric or the 'Indian Saffron' is a spice that no one can do without. The value of the Indian turmeric has been known to man since ancient times. Today, India is the largest exporter of turmeric to the Middle East, the UK, the USA and Japan. Turmeric is such a part of our lives, that they are known by special names denoting the region they come from. For example - the Alleppey Finger is from Kerala, Madras Finger and Erode Finger are from Tamil Nadu, the Rajapore and Sangli turmeric is from Maharashtra, and the Nizamabad Bulb is from Andhra Pradesh.
Turmeric is exported not only in the root form, but also as powder and oleoresins. Though turmeric is a native of India, it is also cultivated in Pakistan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Nepal, East & West Africa, the South Pacific Islands, Caribbean Islands, Malagasy and Central America. The turmeric or Curcuma longa is the dried rhizome of a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the ginger family, Zingiberaceae.
It needs temperatures between 20 to 30 degrees C and a considerable amount of rainfall in order to grow and thrive. It grows at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1200 meters above MSL. Turmeric needs the black clayey loam and red soil to grow in. It does not grow in soil which is alkaline or water-logged. The rhizomes are collected annually. They are boiled for many hours and then oven-dried in very hot ovens. Then the roots are ground to produce a deep orange-yellow powder. The active ingredient is curcumin and it has an earthy flavor.
Turmeric is used to flavor and color foodstuff. It is the main ingredient in all curry powders. Turmeric oleoresin is used in pickling, mayonnaise and relish. The textile industry uses turmeric in its dyes. Medicinal oils, poultice, and ointments use turmeric. Its use as a blood purifier and antiseptic is well known. It is an antidote for poison.
Cosmetics use turmeric in them and natural turmeric paste used on the skin cures pigmentation and makes the skin glow. Turmeric is used in many ayurvedic cures because of its medicinal properties. It is supposed to contain a fluoride which is essential for teeth. It has antibacterial properties. In some Asian countries, turmeric is used as a dietary supplement. It helps cure stomach and other ailments.
Currently, research is being done on the effect of turmeric on Alzheimer's disease, cancer and liver disorders. In gardening, turmeric powder sprinkled on the ground near the plants deters ants from nesting near them. In India, all rituals and pujas use turmeric. Turmeric is also used in the automotive industry. It is one of the main constituents of the radiator stop-leak mixtures.
|
|
