Turmeric

Famous for its yellowy-orange powder, which gives curries the world over their bright colour, turmeric is a plant native to Southeast Asia and is grown across nearly the whole Asian continent. Its thick underground root, or rhizome, is dried and ground to produce a powder that has been used for thousands of years. Turmeric is a sacred spice for Hindus who use it in religious ceremonies, and it has a bitter, peppery, slightly hot flavour. It is widely used as a fabric and food dye and has therapeutic properties. In Indian and Chinese traditional medicine, it is prescribed to treat digestive and inflammatory problems, and studies carried out on the plant over the last few decades have revealed it contains powerful antioxidants.