How unenterprising would dal look without a dash of yellow in it, or how colourless and insipid most home made Indian food be, without turmeric? The ancient spice is, but a pinchful of yellow, but it transforms the way, food looks, smells and tastes. Turmeric, the one basic ingredient you’d unmistakably find in masala boxes in home kitchens all over the country that dresses up an Indian meal and makes it rich in colour, taste and aroma. The ancient spice is a native of South East Asia and used as a dye and condiment. Cultivated primarily in Bengal, China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Java, Peru, West Indies and Australia, it is used extensively in the food there. Its name derives from the latin terra merita “meritorious earth” referring to the colour of ground turmeric, which resembles a mineral pigment. In many languages turmeric is named as “yellow root”.

 A rhizome or underground stem of a ginger-like plant, turmeric is available ground, as a bright yellow fine powder. Whole turmeric is a tuberous rhizome, with a rough, segmented skin.
Used extensively in Indian cooking apart from Moroccan cuisine to spice meat, particularly lamb, and vegetables, its principal place is in curries and curry powders. It is used in many fish curries too, one of the reasons being that it successfully masks fishy odour.

"Grandma’s home remedies"

How often have you been tucked in bed with a glass of milk mixed with a pinch of turmeric when you are down with cold? A simple home remedy, it , soothes a sore throat and puts you to peaceful sleep. A natural antiseptic turmeric is used to seal cuts and wounds. And is also known to be mild digestive, aromatic and carminative.

"Face Pack"

The fresh and dried roots of turmeric make an excellent face pack. Slice fresh turmeric and rub it to your face before a bath regularly for a month and you’ll see your skin shine with radiance. Also a pinch of turmeric mixed with fresh cream and rose water is a great face pack. Use it as a pre-bath massage for infants. It is also known to slacken the growth of facial hair. No wonder then that it is used as a n ingredient in beauty creams and lotions.

"Ceremonial haldi"

Ever witnessed a haldi kumkum ceremony” this Maharastrian custom has vermilion and haldi offered to women as it is considered auspicious. Turmeric tubers are strung together and tied to vessels during Pongal too.