Turmeric

Turmeric is part of the ginger family and like ginger, it is a rhizome; a horizontal stem of a plant that grows underground. Generally speaking, it is valued more for its colour than its flavour (turmeric is the oldest natural food dye in the world) but it is used extensively in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. Turmeric grows wild in South Asia and has an earthy, slightly bitter taste, not too dissimilar from saffron and for this reason it is often used as an alternative to the far more expensive spice. Its mustardy smell and hot and peppery flavour make it a popular choice for most curry bases and powders.   Uses Due to its…

Cumin

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) Said to be the second most popular spice globally, here we delve into the description of cumin; where it is found and how it is used.  A common ingredient in cuisines all over the world, we look at cooking with cumin and the uses of cumin in curries, as well as its herbal remedies. Cumin is the seed of a small umbelliferous plant that is part of the parsley family.  The plant has a slim stem that grows to 20cm tall and has small pink and white flowers.  The plant needs a hot climate to grow and is hand harvested when the seeds turn brown. The seeds themselves are about 3-6mm in…