Turmeric Preparation and How to Detect Adulterated Turmeric

Turmeric is easily one of the most valuable spices in the world. It is cultivated commercially in India, which actually caters to 94 percent of the world demand, and is sold in the market in the form of dried hormones. Apart from India, the other turmeric producing countries include Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh and the major importing countries of this versatile spice includes Middle East Countries, Sri Lanka and Iran which consume 75 percent of India.s produce. Europe and North America import the remaining 15 percent.



Commercial cultivation of turmeric is done by planting little rhizomes either on flat soil or along the ridges. You should supply the best quality manure to get a very good yield. Turmeric can be harvested 7 to 11 months after planting, the indication is when the lower leaves turn yellow. To harvest, you need to dig the rhizomes up. The leafy tops are removed and so are the roots. Rhizomes are then rinsed with water and some of them are replanted. The remaining part can be processed to make turmeric.

The characteristic yellow color and the inimitable aroma are attained when the cleaned rhizomes are cooked in boiling water for an hour. The rhizomes cooked are then put to dry under the hot sun (can be done artificially as well) for 6 to 8 days. The exterior edges of the dried rhizomes are smoothened and the color is thus improved. Then they are sold in this form or ground in the form of turmeric powder. The color of turmeric depends on whether the liquid is mixed with acid or alkali. In an alkali solution, the color of the turmeric is red but if you add acid to neutralize the alkali, the color turns into yellow.

One needs to be cautioned about the fact that turmeric powder can be sold in adulterated format too, by mixing yellow earth and lead chromate. One of the most important usages of turmeric is in the form of dye. The bright yellow dye is used for coloring in fabric, paints, textiles etc. To make the yellow dye, fresh or dried rhizome is powdered to a paste with the help of water. This dye is used popularly in the famous Indian Hindu festival-Holi, where people celebrate by applying bright dye on each other.s faces and clothes. The call for commercialization has made people turn to cheaper alternatives like synthetic dyes, but they can be harmful to the skin. There is nothing like turmeric which is safer, natural and even good for the skin.



As mentioned before, lead chromate is a chemical added by some nefarious people to give it a sharp, yellow color. Lead chromate is cancerous which is why you should make sure that you are supplied genuine turmeric. Well-known brands and reliable manufacturers will always sell you pure turmeric but here is the test to find out if turmeric is adulterated or not:

1. Take two grams of different samples of turmeric in two different plates, and label them A and B.

2. Heat the samples at 600 degree Celsius slowly for about 3-4 hours.

3. The samples turn into white ash. Cool the samples and transfer them into two separate test tubes.

4. Add 5 milliliters of dilute Sulfuric acid into each and then filter the samples.

5. Add a pinch of diphenylcarbazide into each of them and observe.

6. The sample which is adulterated will turn pink, detecting presence of lead chromate.