What Is Turmeric?

I love chucking a whole bunch of spices into a dish. These are mandatory for me: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder. Then, depending on the meal, I cycle through the following: cumin, curry powder, paprika, chili powder, cardamom, ground mustard, or all of the above. But I haven’t really explored turmeric yet. The time has come. But first, let’s find out more about turmeric. What is turmeric? Is turmeric spicy? What is turmeric used for? Read on! 

What is turmeric?

Turmeric is made from the rhizome, or root, of the turmeric plant. These plants exist in the same taxonomic family as ginger. The plant is native to India and several countries in Southeast Asia.

You know how raw ginger is a big, knotted root with a tough-ish brown skin? Turmeric is the same deal. However, instead of the pale-yellow color of ginger underneath, turmeric has a deep orange color similar to a sweet potato.  

When the turmeric root is made into a powder, it not only preserves its flavor but also its bold color. This results in some striking dishes that are feasts for your eyes and mouth alike.

Is turmeric spicy?

Turmeric does not have the same kind of kick as capsaicin-based spices like chili powder or paprika. But it still has some oomph that is more akin to a regular black pepper or mustard. But that’s not where the flavor stops. There are a lot of complex things going on in turmeric: earthy, bitter, a hint of sweetness. You’re getting a whole lot of flavor in one spoonful of the powder.

What is turmeric used for?

Because of its abundance in India and Southeast Asia, turmeric is often a primary ingredient in many curries. If a dish has a bright, orange color, the chances that it has turmeric in it are high. Beyond curry, turmeric adorns a host of rice dishes, soups, and vegetable medleys.

Turmeric is also used in many beverages, like turmeric lattes, “golden milk,” or teas. Similar to ginger tea, turmeric is purported to have a number of health benefits like assisting with digestion issues, fighting  arthritis and inflammation in the body, lowering blood sugar, and has even been suggested as a natural component of some cancer treatments. 

As with any health claims, you have to take them with a grain of salt (or turmeric, in this case). Sure, something like turmeric has been used medicinally for thousands of years. But you should always check in with your doctor if you decide to go on the all-turmeric diet.

How do you say turmeric?

I would have bet dollars to donuts that it was pronounced TWO-meric. That’s how I’ve been doing it my whole life. But somewhere along the way, they slipped that “R” in there. I am a fool! It’s TUR-MUR-ICK.