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.