Turmeric
Turmeric is a flowering plant in the ginger family, scientifically known as Curcuma longa.
Turmeric is a flowering plant in the ginger family, Curcuma longa, whose dried rhizome is used as a spice, dye, and in traditional medicine. It is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia and is widely cultivated for its bright yellow colour.
What it is
Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous plant with rhizomes, large leaves, and flowers. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is not known to grow wild; it is cultivated in tropical climates with warm temperatures and high annual rainfall.
Why it matters
Turmeric is a key ingredient in curry powder and other spice blends, and its vivid yellow colour comes from curcumin, a compound studied for possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has a long history in traditional Asian medicine and is widely used in cooking, food colouring, and dyeing.
Key details
The rhizome is boiled, dried, and ground into powder. Turmeric has been cultivated in South Asia for centuries and is now grown across tropical regions. In Canada, it is sold as a cooking spice, food colouring, and in dietary supplements and herbal products.
In short
- Turmeric is the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa, in the ginger family.
- Its yellow colour comes mainly from curcumin.
- It is used as a spice, food colouring, and in traditional medicine.
- Widely available in Canada as a spice and supplement ingredient.
Turmeric is widely sold in Canada as a cooking spice, food colouring, and ingredient in dietary supplements and herbal products.
Quick questions
What is turmeric?
What gives turmeric its yellow colour?
Where is turmeric native to?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TurmericSupports: Scientific name, plant family, native range, and general description.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/turmericSupports: Botanical identity, native range, and historical uses.
- National Cancer Institute — https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/turmericSupports: Definition, spice use, food colour use, and curcumin.
- NCBI Bookshelf — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/Supports: Traditional medicinal use, plant family, and rhizome description.
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — https://www.kew.org/plants/turmericSupports: Domesticated status and cultivation in tropical regions.
- PubChem — https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/Curcuma-longaSupports: Taxonomy and classification as Curcuma longa in the ginger family.