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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”. |
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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.
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"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.
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