T U R M E R I C I S O N E O F T H E M A I N S P I C E I N K E R A L A C U I S I N E A N D H A S A M A Z I N G M E D I C I N A L V A L U E .
FINE-DINING-INDIAN PAGE 11
TURMERIC
T U R M E R I C I S O N E O F T H E M A I N S P I C E I N K E R A L A C U I S I N E A N D H A S A M A Z I N G M E D I C I N A L V A L U E .
Turmeric is native to India and Southeast Asia , where it has been popular in cuisines for several thousand years
Turmeric has great antiseptic values . I remember an incident at my college days where one of our chef Instructor accidentally slit his finger while cutting onions . He started shouting for turmeric . we thought it was for cooking later found out he applied to the wound and it stopped blood loss .
At home in india when there is disturbance from ants my grand mother used to sprinkle turmeric . i personally witnessed ants used to avoid or change their path when they came near to Tumeric .
About 800,000 tons of turmeric are produced each year , with over 75 % of this total amount coming from India , which is also the world ' s largest consumer and exporter of turmeric ; in terms of exports , over 50 % of all global exports come from India .
Turmeric root has a very interesting taste and aroma . Its flavor is peppery , warm , and bitter while its fragrance is mild yet slightly reminiscent of orange and ginger . he dried powdered spice that many people use in recipes comes from the root ( rhizome ) portion of the plant Curcuma longa . The unprocessed form of this root bears a strong resemblance to ginger root , and that resemblance is not a coincidence ! Turmeric , ginger , and cardamom are plants all belonging to the Zingiberaceae family — also known as the ginger family . You ' ll sometimes hear turmeric being referred to as Indian saffron since its deep yellow- orange color is similar to that of saffron . You ' ll also sometimes hear it being referred to as curcuma , after it ' s best-studied polyphenolic component , namely , curcumin . Turmeric has been used throughout history as a culinary spice , herbal medicine , and fabric dye .
Despite its use in cooking for several thousand years , turmeric continues to surprise researchers in terms of its wide-ranging health benefits . While once focused on anti-inflammatory benefits , decreased cancer risk , and support of detoxification , studies on turmeric intake now include its potential for improving cognitive function , blood sugar balance , and kidney function , as well as lessening the degree of severity associated with certain forms of arthritis and certain digestive disorders .
Nutritional Value Turmeric is an excellent source of both iron and manganese . It is also a good source of vitamin B6 , dietary fiber , copper , and potassium . Phytonutrients in turmeric include curcumin , demethoxycurcumin , tumerones , and tumenorols .
Use of turmeric in recipes can help retain the betacarotene in certain foods . For example , one study has shown that the beta-carotene in carrots and pumpkins is better retained when those vegetables are cooked using recipes that include turmeric .