Turmeric, belonging to the ginger family is a perennial plant found in the tropical regions of Southern Asia. Turmeric is mostly traded in the whole form, and then processed into powder, oil or oleoresin by the industrial sector.


Origin
Turmeric has been used for many centuries. Due to its ancient origin, its actual place of origin cannot be ascertained but however it has been grown in many parts of south Asia and South East Asia. In south Asia India is major producer, consumers and exporters of turmeric whereas Java, Sumatra are the major producers in Indonesia. Apart from this turmeric is also now grown in Philippines, Japan, Korea, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, East & West Africa,Caribbean Islands and Central America.

Turmeric plant
The appearance of turmeric is like ginger and just like it the edible part is an underground stem called a rhizome. Turmeric like ginger is thick fleshy, and have knobby off shoots. It can be identified by its tuberous root and the leaves extending upward from erect, thick stems arising from the root. The root of the turmeric is actually a fleshy oblong tuber 2-3 inches. The exterior is yellow, tan, or olive-green in color. The interior part of the root is hard, firm, and either orange-brown or deeply rust-colored.

Chemical Composition
Just like other spices it too consist of essential oil sesquiterpenes. Aroma is decided by the chemicals like turmerone, ar-turmerone,and zingiberene. The orange color and the pungent taste is imparted to it by Diarylheptanoids.

Forms of Turmeric

• Turmeric Powder
• Fluid extract

Trade in Turmeric
Global Scenario
The global trade in turmeric has been increasing in the last few years owing to the increasing awareness of the numerous benefits of turmeric in a number of products and industries. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric powder. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Taiwan, Srilanka, Burma are other significant producers of turmeric powder. US is the largest exporter of turmeric, India provides 90 % of the US demand.

Indian Scenario
India is one of the major producers of turmeric and most of the production is used for domestic consumption. The city of Sangli, in Maharashtra is one of the largest trading centres in the world. The exports figures from India has doubled in the last decade, with a major rise in turmeric oils and oleroresin exports.

Uses of Turmeric

Medicinal use
Turmeric has been traditionally used for curing a number of diseases, it is known to prevent various sexual transmitted diseases, has anti-tumoral effects, is considered to be a possible treatment for cancer etc.

Food additive
Coded as E100, turmeric is a widely used food additive for products that are specially packaged to protect from sunlight. It is also used in mustard, pickles for compensating fading color.

Food Industry
Used in a number of products including bakery products, dairy products, cereals, sauces and ketchups, biscuits, cakes etc.

Cosmetics
Turmeric is used to manufacture various sunscreen, fairness creams and lotions. The anti-oxidant properties helps to lighten the skin and also used for treating skin inflammations.