TURMERIC: THE ACKNOWLEDGED SPICE OF LIFE

What do you know about turmeric? For many people it is first of all associated with Indian cuisine. But this ancient plant can be used not only as food. Turmeric is often called a golden spice due to its outstanding properties.

Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, is a herbaceous rhizogenous plant that belongs to ginger family, or Zingiberaceae. It grows in the forests of Southern and Southestern Asia and Indian Subcontinent. Turmeric is a perennial plant and is gathered each year mainly for rhizomes. They are usually orange or yellow, cylindrical and have a specific smell. They can be used either fresh or dried and ground into yellow powder that is well-known all over the world. This yellow spice has a peppery, pungent and a little bitter flavor.

Modern science found out that turmeric contains such an important substance as curcumin.

Unfortunately, the content of curcumin in turmeric is quite low, about 3 %.

Interesting Turmeric Facts

• Originally during the Vedic period of India this spice was appreciated a lot as it was associated with the Sun due its bright yellow colour.The sun itself and sun Gods were worshipped a great deal at that time. So turmeric was an irreplaceable part of many rituals.
• Indian and Pakistanian people are the main consumers of turmeric - they eat about 2 grams of turmeric a day for one person (basically in the form of curry).
• Curcumin is liposoluble so it’s really good to add turmeric to fatty food.
• Turmeric contains a lot of healthy substances such as potassium, manganese, iron, vitamin B6, copper and some others.
• Surprisingly, it can also help you to prevent water-cooled radiator from leaking. Just add a spoon of turmeric powder to the water of your radiator and the problem will be solved.

There is a variety of different ways how we can consume turmeric - it can be cooked from fresh rhizomes or taken in the form of powder, capsules or tablets, supplements, lotions, ointments, paste, juice, tinctures, extracts and tea.

Turmeric tea is very popular all over the world and is even called “Liquid Gold”. This tea is very warming and has a spicy and earthy taste.

Turmeric tea recipe

What you need:

·       1-2 cups of water

·       1 tsp turmeric

·       1 tsp cinnamon

·       pinch of clove and nutmeg

·       1 tsp fresh ginger or pinch of ground black pepper (it’s optional)

·       Some honey

·       Milk or milk sub

You should simmer water with herbs for around 10 minutes, then strain out the mixture. After that add honey, milk and your golden drink is ready!