Turmeric

Turmeric is a rhizome spice from a plant in the ginger family, native to South Asia and cultivated in India for millennia, with evidence of its use appearing in the archaeology of the Indus Valley Civilization. It is the source of curcumin, the compound responsible for turmeric's characteristic deep yellow-orange color, and has long been used in South Asian cooking, in Ayurvedic medicine, and in religious and ceremonial contexts including Hindu ritual. Turmeric spread along historic trade routes to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and eventually the wider world, and remains a foundational spice in Indian cuisine, most visibly as a base ingredient of curry powder blends.