Introduction

Botanical Name:- Curcuma longa

Family:- Zingiberaceae

• It is an important spice crop.
• The plants are herbaceous perennial and native to tropical South East Asia.
• The rhizomes contain 1.8 – 5.4 percent curcumin pigment (yellow coloring factor) and 2.5 – 7.2% essential oil.
• With the ban of artificial color in the food industry, the use of curcumin has become widespread.
• Turmeric is used as condiments and as dye in cosmetic industries.
• The value added products of turmeric are oil, oleoresin, curcuminoids and dehydrated turmeric powder.

The important species of turmeric are given below;

1. Curcuma longa:- grown at commercial scale and covers major area under cultivation.
2. C. aromatica:- also known as Cochin ginger.
3. C. angustifolia:- roots containing high starch
4. C. amada:- having taste and flavor like that of mango, also known as mango ginger.