Description:-

TURMERIC is a bright yellow spice powder that is made from the root of a plant in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), Curcuma longa. It has been used in all the dishes almost for food colouring and also have lots of health benefits.

Like galangal and ginger, turmeric is a kind of root (rhizome) and has a similar appearance, except that it has an orange hue. Extracts of turmeric, curcumin, are under investigation for their potential health benefits and may be sold as a dietary supplement.

Usage Tips :-

When using turmeric in cooking, you will want to be careful as it can stain your hands and clothing yellow, although it will wash out.

It is also known as Indian saffron, turmeric.

Flavour of Turmeric

Turmeric has a pungent, earthy odor. The flavor of turmeric is described as a little bitter, a little peppery like mustard or horseradish, with a slight ginger flavour. It's most often used for colouring more than for the flavour. If you leave it out of a recipe, you may not notice much change in flavour, but the dish won't be as golden as desired.

For the coloration qualities, it is sometimes substituted for saffron, but that adds a little bitterness that might not be desired. A suggested substitute for turmeric in a recipe is dry mustard.