Totally Tumeric!    Druid's Garden with Ben Sorensen

This edition of Druid’s Garden sees a member of the ginger family, quite commonly used, and even one of the cheaper spices as our subject. Of course it’s Turmeric(Curcuma longa)!

This plant has so many benefits and uses. During my research I even found it used in leading radiator anti-leak sealant! How versatile! Originating from India over 2000 years ago, it was first used only as a dye until its versatility was unleashed as a spice and for use in early cosmetics! It was as early as 1280 when even Marco Polo was writing of it as “having the properties of saffron, yet it is not really saffron”. It was also mixed with water and fashioned into a cone shape for use in Pujas (a religious ritual in the Hindu faith) as a form of the elephant God Ganesha. Interestingly enough, I even found turmeric listed in Susruta’s Ayurvedic “Compendium,” a volume dated 250 BC, where turmeric is listed as a cure for food poisoning.

Medicinally, when taken orally (mainly through mixing into meals) turmeric has some fascinating benefits! There has been much research on turmeric and as always, there are some conflicting results. However, most of the research seems to favour its anti-cancer properties and it’s said that just a teaspoon a day can greatly reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s, and help your liver too! These benefits come from stuff called curcumin found in turmeric. It also has antioxidant properties which promote general wellbeing.

My favourite use for turmeric is actually in the first-aid kit! Its perfect for cuts and abrasions, not only does the powdered root stop the bleeding but its anti-bacterial and anti inflammatory properties protect and promote speedy wound healing with minimal scaring.

As for the culinary experience, South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking tend to favour turmeric heavily, although it is traditionally used in South Africa to give boiled white rice a golden colour. It’s mildly aromatic with hints of orange and ginger and has a somewhat bitter and pungent flavour. Sometimes it’s used as a saffron substitute, although I don’t recommend it – nothing beats the real thing!!

One of the easiest ways to spice up your vegetables is to melt some butter,and mix with some powered turmeric root to add a flavorsome change to boring veggies. Because I’m a nutty fan of turmeric I also mix it through my mash potato and sometimes add it to my salt and pepper blend in my shaker (Pepper also aids in the absorption of turmeric). It just adds an extra dimension to less interesting meals.

As for gardening, I have nothing other than anecdotal evidence (and my grandparent’s word) that turmeric deters ants. Turmeric is a low growing tropical herbaceous plant, which forms many long thin rhizomes, used to produce spice and dye. It’s a perennial and only grows in temperatures over 18 degrees and has similar growing properties to ginger.

What an amazing herb turmeric is, with hundreds more uses that those in this article – so play and experiment with this magical spice!

For more information on Ben Sorensen visit www.BenSorensen.com or
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