Curcuma is prized because of its long, tubular rhizomes, which have a bright orange color. The rhizomes can be eaten raw, but they are primarily boiled, dried, and ground to make turmeric powder. Turmeric powder is a popular spice around the world and is a staple ingredient of Asian curries.
Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root of the C urcuma longa plant, which is part of the ginger family. Its major active ingredient is curcumin. “Curcumin is what gives turmeric that bright, yellow color,” says registered dietitian Amber Sommer, RD, LD.
To start with, the Turmeric plant is one among over 1000 herbaceous perennials from the Zingiberaceae ginger family. Most aromatic perennial herbs develop from tuberous rhizomes, so growing it isn’t toilsome even for a beginner.