The term “turmeric root” is actually a misnomer – what we use is not the roots per se, but the rhizome of the turmeric plant. The rhizome is the stem found underground. Roots emerge from the rhizome. But technicalities aside, turmeric root is very valuable because it can make our food taste great, and it can help cure some of our many illnesses.
A turmeric root looks like ginger. It has a light brown color and when it is peeled, you will see its trademark yellow-orange color. This is the same color you see when you see turmeric powder commonly used in many Indian and Middle Eastern dishes.
Turmeric Root Trivia
- People in the Middle Ages call turmeric Indian Saffron. Zohar Amar, in the book Arabian Drugs in Medieval Mediterranean Medicine, wrote: “In medieval Arabic literature, turmeric had several names and was mainly called Indian saffron.”
- Erode earned the title Yellow City because this city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is the one responsible for producing the most turmeric for local and global consumption. Sourabh Angarkar, in the book Roots of Herbs and Spices, describes Erodem as “the most important trading center for turmeric.”
- Turmeric root is used in making folk and traditional medicine and beauty products too in many parts of India, China, and Japan.
Turmeric Root Buying Guide
You can buy turmeric root in the supermarket. At the farmers’ market, look for vendors or stalls selling fresh root crops.
When buying turmeric roots, pick those that look clean and dirt-free. Do not buy soft, dried, or shriveled turmeric root.
When buying turmeric roots, we recommend you go local! Visit farmers markets or farmstands. Buy from farmers or growers in your community who grow turmeric.
Why buy organic? Turmeric roots sold in supermarkets are usually subjected to inhibitors so that it does not sprout. It means it will not grow roots if you try to plant it. Organic turmeric roots, on the other hand, can be planted. This way, you’ll be able to have your own supply of turmeric root available right in your backyard garden or inside pots.
Turmeric Root Production & Farming in Texas
There is no major, large-scale, commercial turmeric root production in Texas. However, there are many farms that grow root crops like ginger and turmeric, like in South Texas, and they sell whatever they harvest locally. Examples are Rain Song Farm in Montgomery County, Texas, and Hat and Heart Farm in Fredericksburg.
Pesticides, Additives, and Chemicals
According to researchers Bappa Ghosh, Narayan Kamble, Arijita Bhattacharyya, Chandrasekar Kandaswamy, and Kaushik Banerjee, in their collaborative research published in the Journal of AOAC International in 2020 entitled “Multi-residue Analysis of Pesticides in Turmeric (Powder and Rhizome) Using Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry”, residues pf pesticides applied to turmeric to manage pests and diseases “might remain accumulated in its rhizome at harvest” that could “pose severe health hazards to humans.”
To make sure turmeric is not subjected to excessive pesticide (and as a result, products like turmeric root are not tainted with pesticide), different countries and regions like the Codex Alimentarius Commission, The European Union, and Canada have set maximum residue limits or MRL and are monitoring pesticide use on turmeric.
- Bromopropylate
- Chlorpyrifos methyl
- Dichlobenil
- Ethoxyquin
- Fenitrothion
- Fenthion
- Propyzamide
- Trifluranil
Geography
Where is turmeric root coming from? It is no secret that a big part of the world’s supply of turmeric comes from India – approximately 80% of the global turmeric production is attributed to this country. India exports turmeric to more than 150 countries.
In the US, turmeric is not really a major crop. Nonetheless, there are growers that contribute to the production of turmeric in the country, and these are found mainly in Hawaii.
Packaging
Turmeric roots are commonly sold without any packaging. You may find some in plastic wrap. Turmeric roots are typically heaped in a tray or basket, allowing you to examine and pick each piece and buy just enough for what you need.
Enjoying Turmeric Root
Can you eat turmeric root raw? Yes. But like everything else, it is best to consume turmeric raw in moderation.
But if you have gallbladder problems, bleeding disorders, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), infertility, iron deficiency, liver disease, hormone-sensitive conditions, and arrhythmia, you should not eat turmeric root. Pregnant women and someone who is about to undergo surgery are also discouraged from eating turmeric root or food cooked with turmeric root.
If you find large slices of turmeric root in your food, it is because it is meant to provide flavor, not to be eaten. It is common to find big, thin, oval-shaped slices of turmeric root in dishes. Sometimes, it is cut into strips. Turmeric root is eaten if it is grated, or more commonly, if it is turned into powder.
Storage
Put turmeric root in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator, where it can stay in good condition for 7 to 14 days.
Cooking
Turmeric roots can be used in many dishes and in many different ways. It is used in making stews and curry dishes. It is also used in making different kinds of pureed soups, like carrot soup, cauliflower soup, or yellow pea soup.
In India, it is common to use fresh turmeric roots in making the traditional medicinal drink called Golden Milk or haldi ka doodh. Or peel and grate turmeric root and make a healthy smoothie. Grated turmeric root is also a great addition to your scrambled eggs or omelets, infusing the dish with vibrant color and making the dish more nutritious too!
There are many uses for turmeric root, and it is known to be used in cooking different kinds of food and dishes all around the world, like rice, eggs, soups, stews, grains like quinoa, the cereal food made from the cracked parboiled groats called bulgur, and the North African couscous. Fresh turmeric roots can also be used in making meat marinades. This is great especially for chicken you plan to roast later.
If you are using turmeric root, know that it pairs well with different spices like black pepper, chili powder, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and ginger, and with common ingredients used to give dishes its delicious flavor, like lemon, honey, butter, olive oil, garlic, shallots, and rosemary, among others.
There are dishes that require saffron or mustard for the flavor and color. If you don’t have any of these on hand, you can use fresh turmeric root as a substitute. It can also give the dish a golden or orange color.
The last option is to dehydrate turmeric roots so that you can turn it into turmeric powder!
Nutrition
Eating food that contains turmeric roots is good because of turmeric’s many beneficial qualities; it contains anti-inflammatory properties and it assists in liver detoxification while also helping maintain a healthy blood sugar level and clean the arteries too.
