While in many Asian and middle eastern countries turmeric is an ancestral pantry staple, the west only started discovering its properties and uses in recent years. It has gradually become an essential ingredient in wellness & healthy diets thanks to its various benefits, along with its unique taste & yellowish colour. Far from only being a must-add in many curries & rice dishes, turmeric can also be used in lattes, smoothies, soups, wellness shots. It's also an excellent herbal supplement, cosmetic ingredient, food flavoring, and food coloring agent. So what is Turmeric, and how can we use it? Here's a short guide and everything you need to know to add it to your pantry.
What is Turmeric?
Expert Research shows that Turmeric comes from Curcuma longa which is a plant that belongs to the ginger family, i.e., Zingiberaceae. It is commonly found in South Asia. Around 133 species of Curcuma have been discovered and identified globally, making it a widely spread and explored spice that is offering plenty of health benefits to people – in different ways.
Turmeric is also a highly reliable and beneficial spice that doesn't only serve when adding taste to dishes, but is also a widely used in alternative medecine. The major component in turmeric, known as curcumin, is responsible for adding that yellowish colour to products like foods and cosmetics. Turmeric contains 1-9% curcuminoids, which are bioactive compounds. Curcumin is the principal one and the key active ingredient in turmeric, it makes for 75% of active curcuminoids. It gives turmeric its anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. This is why you'll see food supplements containing isolated curcumin and others containing whole turmeric, which is the ''full spectrum''.
Ancestral Use
Before we move forward to exploring some uses of turmeric in today's modern age, let's first learn how it was used in ancient times by our ancestors. The use of turmeric dates back nearly 4000 years to the Vedic culture in India, where it was used in food and also had some religious significance. It gradually reached China then East Africa then West Africa by 1200 ad. The major medical use of turmeric revolved around treating different skin disorders, digestive system & joint issues, as well as respiratory tract related illness. Its healing properties made it a reliable & popular treatment at the time, often mixed with potent herbs.
Turmeric Today
There is a lack of large scale clinical trials when it comes to turmeric, but early trials and lab research has shown promise in potential anticancer properties, blood glucose regulation, depressive symptoms reduction, arthritis alleviation, and the list keeps growing. Despite the lack of clinical evidence for its efficacy, curcumin is widely used today as a natural alternative remedy and food supplement to help with the following conditions:
Inflammation (such as osteoarthritis)
Hay fever
High cholesterol
Heartburn & digestion
Stress
Our personal favourites are: period bloating reduction, post gym side-kick & hungover stomach soothing. If you're short on time, just dilute a tsp. in water and drink as a shot.
Try it! Turmeric Latte recipe
Here’s an easy, healthy and delicious recipe to start exploring turmeric at home:
What You Need:
2 cups plant based milk. We use Oat or Almond.
1 tsp. turmeric powder
A pinch of Cinnamon or cardamom or nutmeg
Prefer it sweet? Add honey
Would like to spice it up? Add a sprinkle of black pepper
The HighGround signature mix? A tsp. of Baobab Powder and a pinch of ginger
Firstly, you need to heat the milk in a saucepan until it gets hot (but don't boil it).
Now, remove it from the heat, add the ingredients, stir, and taste. Adjust If needed.
To get that creamy latte texture, blend or use a milk frother.
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