Question

From which part of turmeric plant (Curcuma longa) the turmeric powder is obtained
A. Seed
B. Dried rhizome
C. Dried root
D. Dried fruit

Answer 1

Hint: Turmeric is a flowering plant of the Zingiberaceae ginger family, Curcuma longa, the roots of which are used in cooking. In many Asian cuisines, particularly for curries and dyeing, the rhizomes are used fresh or boiled in water and dried, after which they are ground into a deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a colouring and flavouring agent.

Complete Answer:
The rhizome of the plant is harvested every year, some for propagation in the following season and some for consumption. Turmeric powder has a warm, bitter, black pepper-like flavour and an earthy, mustard-like aroma.The underground stem called the dried rhizome of the plant obtains turmeric powder.

Turmeric plants attain a height of around 1 metre (3.3 feet) and bear long simple leaves (leaf stems) with long petioles. The leaves that lie just below the soil surface emerge from the branching rhizomes. The older rhizomes are slightly scaly and dark, while the young rhizomes are pale yellow to brown-orange. In the axils of waxy bracts, small yellow-orange flowers are born that are normally light green or tinged with purple.

Production requires a process of boiling, which is accompanied by sunlight exposure of the rhizomes for five to seven days to dry. In a mounted drum, they are then polished by hand rubbing or by rotation. Dried rhizomes range in length from about 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm). Typically, the spice is sold in ground form. Distillation yields 1.3 to 5.5 percent essential oil, of which turmerone and ar-turmerone are the main components. Curcumin, which is also an antioxidant, is the colouring ingredient.

The correct Answer is option (B) Dried Rhizome.

Note: Turmeric is often eaten as a tea or in pill form for a number of diseases, including arthritis and intestinal issues, reputed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Paper tinged with a turmeric tincture, turns from yellow to reddish brown when applying alkali, becoming violet when drying, thus offering an alkalinity examination.