Turmeric, Alleppy (ground)

Curcuma longa

$7

Turmeric is widely used in cooking and gives Indian curry its flavor and yellow color. It is also used in mustard and to color butter and cheese.

There are two types most commonly used, Alleppey and Madras. 

  • Alleppy Turmeric has the highest color content and deepest flavor. Alleppy turmeric is a deep orange-yellow in color and has a flavor very close to fresh turmeric root. This is the best variety to use in cooking when the true flavor of turmeric is desired. 
  • Madras Turmeric is generally used when color is sought without the characteristic flavor. 

Recipe

Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric and Ginger

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon black mustard seeds
  • 1 jalapeno, finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • Salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Whisk together the oil, mustard seeds, jalapeno, ginger, and turmeric in a small bowl.

Place cauliflower in a medium baking dish and toss with the flavored oil and season with salt. Roast until lightly golden brown and just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Alleppy turmeric is a deep orange-yellow in color and has a strong earthly-bitter flavor and oily texture, high curcumin content (5%) and a fresh stronger flavor than Madras turmeric. It provides a deep orange color and is the best variety to use in cooking when the true flavor of turmeric is desired.

It has taste

Although turmeric has a distinctive flavor, when using it in curry and Chermoula blends it has amalgamating characteristics on the other spices it has been blended with. 

Always buy dried turmeric in its ground form, as it is too hard to grind domestically. 

Be careful when using it in the kitchen as it stains clothes and some plastic utensils. 

Turmeric is the rhizome of a tropical plant that resembles ginger in appearance. This ground dried rhizome, related to ginger, grows in 'Alleppey', a town in Kerala, India.

Tumeric has also become a popular herbal supplement due to its potential antioxidant properties potentially contributing to brain health.

Health Benefits

Turmeric has been used for 4,000 years in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory and treat a variety of conditions. Studies show that turmeric may help fight infections and some cancers, reduce inflammation, and treat digestive problems.  (Publication by University of Maryland Medical Center)  

Turmeric has been used , to treat digestive and liver problems, skin diseases, and wounds.

Turmeric is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants scavenge molecules in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Antioxidants can fight free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

In addition, Turmeric lowers the levels of two enzymes in the body that cause inflammation. It also stops platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.

Research suggests that turmeric may be helpful for the following conditions:

  •  Indigestion or Dyspepsia  
  •  Ulcerative colitis  
  •  Stomach Ulcers  
  •  Osteoarthritis  
  •  Heart Disease  - Atherosclerosis, lower cholesterol & clots  
  •  Cancer  - Prostate, breast, skin, and colon cancer 
  •  Bacterial and Viral Infections
  •  Uveitis  - Inflammation of the iris

Warning - Turmeric supplements are somewhat notorious for low-quality ingredients and even outright dangerous contamination. Herbies is only the highest quality turmeric from the most reputable grower sources.
Botanical Name Curcuma longa
Common Names Alleppy Turmeric, Indian Saffron, Madras Turmeric