Turmeric is the rhizome of Curcuma longa – a relative of ginger from South and Southeast Asia. It gives curry powder its yellow and has belonged to Indian cooking and the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years. This article covers what actually makes a difference when you buy it and when you cook with it.
Curcumin and the other curcuminoids
The yellow comes from the curcuminoids, of which curcumin is the most abundant. In the dried rhizome they account for roughly two to five per cent, depending on variety, growing conditions and harvest. Standardised extracts concentrate them many times over. That is the central difference between the spice off the shelf, a capsule of milled rhizome and an extract – three different things, all called «turmeric».
Why the pepper belongs with it
Curcumin is fat-soluble and only absorbed to a small extent in the gut; on top of that, the liver breaks it down quickly. Piperine, the pungent compound in black pepper, inhibits one of the pathways involved. That is exactly why turmeric, pepper and fat have gone into the pot together in Indian cooking since long before anyone could name the mechanism. If you buy turmeric in capsules, the ingredient list is worth a look: is there pepper extract in it or not?
In the kitchen
Turmeric goes with lentils, rice, eggs and vegetables, and is traditionally bloomed in fat rather than sprinkled on at the end. As a drink, golden milk is widespread – turmeric with milk or a plant drink, fat, pepper and usually cinnamon and ginger. Ready-mixed, you will find it in our Organic Golden Milk with 10 superfoods.
Our turmeric
The Organic Turmeric in capsules contains milled rhizome from certified organic cultivation in a plant-based HPMC capsule, without fillers. More plants of this kind are listed under Medicinal Plants.
Note
Turmeric can affect the action of anticoagulant medication; caution is advised with gallstones and disorders of the bile ducts. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet, and the stated daily intake should not be exceeded. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a pre-existing condition or take medication, seek medical advice before use.
