Where is turmeric found

Noted for its bright yellow color, it is related to and similar in appearance to ginger. The origin of the Latin name Curcuma stems from the Arabic word al-kurkum which was the original word for saffron. This is most likely since both saffron and turmeric are used to make yellow colored dyes. Turmeric is a herbaceous perennial that reaches about three feet tall with grass-like leaves and greenish-yellow flowers. Turmeric thrives in rainy tropical areas such as the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Turmeric is often referred to as a root but this is technically incorrect. Rhizomes are underground stems that grow horizontally underground and have smaller roots growing from them.

The underground rhizome of turmeric consists of two distinct parts: the egg-shaped primary or mother rhizome, which is an extension of the stem, and the long cylindrical, multi-branched secondary rhizomes, growing downward from the primary rhizomes 2. Botanically, turmeric is a member of the Zingiberaceae ginger family. The genus Curcuma consists of upwards of different species.

While Curcuma longa is the most widely used species, there are a few others of note that are used for culinary purposes:. Common Name. Primarily grown in Botanical Name. Asia, India, China. Curcuma longa. Curcuma domestica.

Giant curcuma. Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines. Curcuma xanthorrhiza. Wild turmeric. Analyses of pots discovered near New Delhi uncovered residue from turmeric, ginger and garlic that dates back as early as BCE. It was around BCE that turmeric emerged as an important part of Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of natural healing that is still practiced today.

In Indian culture, the importance of turmeric goes far beyond medicine. The Hindu religion sees turmeric as auspicious and sacred.

This necklace, known as a mangala sutra , indicates that the woman is married and capable of running a household. The tradition still continues in Hindu communities and has been compared to the Western exchange of wedding rings. In parts of southern India, a piece of the turmeric rhizome is worn as an amulet for protection against evil spirits.

The vibrant yellow natural coloring of turmeric has also been used to dye clothing and thread for centuries. Saffron-hued Buddhist robes are dyed with turmeric. In Kerala, a state in southwest India, children were given turmeric-dyed clothing to wear during the Onam festival. Most of us are familiar with turmeric as a cooking spice. Hannah shares a recipe for India pickle made with turmeric; a later edition calls for turmeric in a recipe for Indian curry.

Turmeric is propagated only vegetatively because it is a sterile hybrid between wild Curcuma species, probably between Curcuma aromatica and closely related species such as Curcuma petiolata or Curcuma aurantiaca. The thousands of cultivars of turmeric that exist in south and southeast Asia may have resulted in part from independent hybridization events. The actual origin of turmeric is still under investigation by botanists. Turmeric has been in use in southern Asia for more than years as a dye, medicine, and spice, and is now cultivated in tropical regions around the globe.

The island of Hawaii produces most of the organic turmeric available in the United States.