Organic Ground Turmeric Standard - 50g Steenbergs details and description

Steenbergs Organic Turmeric is an ochre coloured, earthy tasting spice that is the key to Indian cookery.  For me, turmeric is one of those quintessial spices - almost to brightly coloured like a water-based paint powder, an earthy flavour and just a hint of warmth and all from a boring looking root (rhizome) that lurks in the ground.  What makes mustard yellow? It isn't the mustard seed, it's the turmeric - Steenbergs organic turmeric has a very intense, bright yellow-orange colour. Use only ½ of the organic turmeric that a recipe calls for in pickles, mustard or Indian cooking. Use Steenbergs organic turmeric for a whole variety of curries and it can also be used to colour rice rather than saffron.

Turmeric is a tropical rhizome, Curcuma longa, that has long, flat green leaves that grow from the root system - think of bearded lilies with their rhizomes and flattish green leaves.  Turmeric's leaves grow to about 1m high (3ft).  Turmeric rhizomes are similar to ginger in appearance and grow 5-8cm long (2-3.25 inches), although they are rounder in cross-section, reaching 1.5cm in thickness (0.5 inch).  The centre of the root is a deep orange-yellow colour where ginger is pale beige - see my photo at Facebook.  To process, the turmeric rhizomes are lifted, boiled for one hour to fix the colours, dried for 10-15 days then cleaned (called polishing) before being crushed and ground.  Turmeric powder is a bright yellow, although it can be more orange-yellow and almost brown, with a distinctive earthyand citrussy aroma and warm, floral, spicy and woody flavour that is surprisingly delicious; underneath all the flavours is a deep and sexy musky note.  The colour of turmeric comes from its natural curcumin colouration.  for more information on turmeric, try Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages and/or Wikipedia.

Turmeric is generally underused in cooking as it is usually employed for its natural yellow colours.  However, it is also a key component in many blends and recipes from curry powders through to chermoula.  Turmeric is lovely in rice dishes, but please do not use as an alternative to saffron as they are both different flavours and colours.  Classic uses for for turmeric are in curries (or Chicken Tikka Masala) or Kuwaiti fish stew or chermoula.  For more inspiration, dig into Allrecipes and the BBC website. 

Steenbergs organic turmeric is part of the Steenbergs UK range of over 400 organic spices, organic peppers, organic seasoning blends, organic herbs and organic flavoured sugars. For your local stockist follow the link, or ring us on 01765 640 088 or email to enquiries@steenbergs.co.uk.

KLBD certified  kosher.

Spice - season - savour - sustainably - with Steenbergs.