Turmeric

kayrobbins · January 12, 2016

I harvested my first turmeric this weekend and made my own turmeric powder. It was quiet a bit of work and I was afraid it would not make enough to be worth the effort but I ended up with a nice batch. The color and taste is so much better than the one I bought. The spoon on the left has the purchased spice and the one on the right is the one I made. I have some of the rhizomes in pots inside to see if I can get an early start on next year's crop but have saved the biggest ones to plant outside in the spring.

Worth1 · January 12, 2016

It looks fantastic.
I know what I do with it but what do you do with it.
It is a very underutilized spice in the US for the most part.

Worth

kayrobbins · January 12, 2016

It would almost be easier to tell you what I don't do with it. It has so many health benefits that it should be in everyone's diet. I use it as a poor man's saffron when I just want color in something like rice, I put it in smoothies, oatmeal, soups etc. I even found a recipe to make a dark chocolate candy with it. I have heard some people pickle it but I am not there yet.

How do you use it?

Worth1 · January 12, 2016

To make fried rice in BBQ rubs especially when I do lamb spices in certain sausages soups homemade curry powder you name it.
The stuff I by looks like it is between the stuff an the left and your powder, it is organic.

Worth

Worth1 · January 12, 2016

I want to add I detest store bought spice mixes and blends.

Worth

RobinB · January 12, 2016

I use so much turmeric root in smoothies mostly, but yes also for color in certain dishes, (and it really helps with joint pain,) I wonder if I could grow it here in my greenhouse. Interesting thought, I'll have to look it up.

KC.Sun · January 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinB

I use so much turmeric root in smoothies mostly, but yes also for color in certain dishes, (and it really helps with joint pain,) I wonder if I could grow it here in my greenhouse. Interesting thought, I'll have to look it up.

We use it to make a tea. It works well to alleviate joint pain.

KC.Sun · January 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayrobbins

I harvested my first turmeric this weekend and made my own turmeric powder. It was quiet a bit of work and I was afraid it would not make enough to be worth the effort but I ended up with a nice batch. The color and taste is so much better than the one I bought. The spoon on the left has the purchased spice and the one on the right is the one I made. I have some of the rhizomes in pots inside to see if I can get an early start on next year's crop but have saved the biggest ones to plant outside in the spring.

What type of turmeric did you grow? I was looking for rhizomes a little while ago and found so many types, but didn't know which version to grow that would be best.

I found at least 3 types all sold from a grower in Hawaii.

RobinB · January 12, 2016

I absolutely love this stuff in tea:
http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/g...ic-honey-bomb/

kayrobbins · January 12, 2016

I bought mine as a plant from a local herb farm. I did not want to call her to ask because I always end up in 2 hour conversations when I do I went to her Facebook page to find a post she had done and she had it listed as Curcuma Longa, Zingiberaceae.

If you have a grocery store that sells organic turmeric tubers you can just use that. Try to find one or two that have two or three eyes on them. It is not hard to grow but does take 7-10 months before you will get a harvest. It cannot survive a hard freeze but people in cold climates can dig up the rhizomes to store over winter.

kayrobbins · January 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinB

I absolutely love this stuff in tea:
http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/g...ic-honey-bomb/

Thanks for that link. I added that to my yumprint cookbook. I need to add growing ginger to my spring garden list.

Worth1 · January 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayrobbins

Thanks for that link. I added that to my yumprint cookbook. I need to add growing ginger to my spring garden list.

I cant believe your not growing it, fresh ginger is the bomb and make a cool house plant.

I cant believe I'm not growing it.

Worth

kayrobbins · January 12, 2016

I can't believe neither one of is growing it. That is going to be corrected. You should grow turmeric too because it would do well in your climate. I just wish horseradish would grow here.

Worth1 · January 12, 2016

I need to go to the store today I will pick up some ginger root and get it going.

It gets wee bit too cold here in the winter but I can get around it.

If one thing will get me out of the house it is being totally out of coffee.

Worth

KC.Sun · January 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinB

I absolutely love this stuff in tea:
http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/g...ic-honey-bomb/

Wow!!!

Love it! Looks like desert

January 12, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	It looks fantastic. I know what I do with it but what do you do with it. It is a very underutilized spice in the US for the most part. Worth

January 12, 2016	#3
kayrobbins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 820	It would almost be easier to tell you what I don't do with it. It has so many health benefits that it should be in everyone's diet. I use it as a poor man's saffron when I just want color in something like rice, I put it in smoothies, oatmeal, soups etc. I even found a recipe to make a dark chocolate candy with it. I have heard some people pickle it but I am not there yet. How do you use it?

January 12, 2016	#6
RobinB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Near Reno, NV Posts: 1,621	I use so much turmeric root in smoothies mostly, but yes also for color in certain dishes, (and it really helps with joint pain,) I wonder if I could grow it here in my greenhouse. Interesting thought, I'll have to look it up.