Tumeric Powder

Turmeric is a peppery, bitter and warm flavour when added to dishes. It is used in most northern Indian recipes in order to brighten the colour of dishes and also add a contrast of bitterness to the sweetness and sourness from tomatoes. This spice, however, is used in moderation in comparison to the other spices as it can be very overpowering if too much is added, creating a very bitter tasting sauce which may be unpleasant to eat for some. Turmeric comes from the root of the 'curcuma longa' plant, which has thick dark brown skin and a vibrant orange flesh inside.

Turmeric is used in both Indian and Chinese forms of medicine as it has often been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory spice. It is known that it can heal sore throats easily, just by gargling with salt due to its healing properties. When consumed within curries and other Indian dishes, it not only releases flavour to harmonise with other spices, but also improves indigestion due to its healthy properties.

Many health benefits are created from using turmeric in different ways, used in a large variety of conditions such as bruises, toothaches, chest pains and hemorrhage. The powerful antioxidant effects of the plant make it especially good with anti-inflammatory problems and has also been known to relieve some forms of arthritis and also as a cancer prevention as it can be used to protect the cells from damaging cellular DNA. It is a versatile spice that is used to enhance the flavour of dishes as well as having huge health benefits.