Turmeric: 9 Surprising Facts About the Golden Spice

Turmeric might be sitting in your spice drawer right now, but there's a lot more to this bright yellow root than curry. Here are nine facts that might surprise you.

1. It's a cousin of ginger

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) belongs to the same plant family as ginger. Like ginger, the part we use is the rhizome – a knobbly underground stem that's often mistaken for a root. Cut a fresh one open and you'll see that unmistakable bright orange inside.

2. India grows most of the world's turmeric

India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric. Indian government figures put its share at around three quarters of global production. More than 30 varieties are grown across the country.

3. Curcumin is where the colour comes from

That famous golden colour comes mainly from curcumin, the best-known compound in turmeric. Surprisingly, curcumin makes up only a small percentage of turmeric by weight – which is why some products use extracts "standardised" to a certain level of curcuminoids.

4. You've probably eaten it without knowing

Curcumin is used as a natural food colour. On ingredient lists in Australia you might see it as colour (100). It helps give some mustards, cheeses, butter, snacks and drinks their yellow hue.

5. It was used to dye fabric

Long before synthetic dyes, turmeric was used to colour cloth a rich yellow-orange. Anyone who's spilled it on a white shirt knows how well it works!

6. It's sometimes called "Indian saffron"

Because of its golden colour, turmeric has long been nicknamed "Indian saffron" – though it's a completely different plant and much more affordable than real saffron.

7. It has its own wedding ceremony

In many Indian weddings, a haldi ceremony is held before the big day. "Haldi" is the Hindi word for turmeric, and family and friends apply a turmeric paste to the couple – usually with lots of laughter and yellow-stained clothes.

8. Turmeric and black pepper often go together

In traditional cooking, turmeric and black pepper are a classic pairing. Black pepper contains a compound called piperine, and you'll often see turmeric products that include a black pepper extract (such as BioPerine®) for that reason.

9. "Golden milk" isn't new

The golden latte may feel like a café trend, but warm milk with turmeric – known as haldi doodh – has been made in Indian homes for generations.

Turmeric in a liquid drop

If you like the idea of turmeric but don't want to cook with it every day, NaturaLabs Turmeric Drops combine organic turmeric, a turmeric extract standardised to 95% curcuminoids and BioPerine® black pepper extract in an easy liquid. Have a look at naturalabs.com.au.

This article is general information only and isn't medical advice. NaturaLabs products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always read the label and follow the directions for use, and speak with your healthcare professional before starting any supplement – especially if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.