Click onto any health and wellness site these days and you will probably find yourself reading about the massive health benefits of Turmeric which is rich in powerful Curcumin. Turmeric has been found to be a strong anti~inflammatory and anti~oxidant agent. Studies show that inflammation can lead to cancers, metabolic syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition it is has been said to treat cancer, lower cholesterol, prevent heart disease, heal wounds and bruises, aid digestion, support brain health, balance moods and prevent depression, it’s even said to improve skin and hair health…. what a powerful little rhizome!
Turmeric is also quite delicious. It has been a popular spice and remedy in Indian cultures for over 4000 years. It’s bright orange color is what tints curries and it is often referred to as Indian Saffron. You can bring turmeric into your life with essential oils or capsules, but recently I’ve been finding this knobby stem {that grows underground} at Trader Joe’s and on Amazon Fresh.
Turmeric is in the ginger family, but the flavor is much more mild. To me it tastes like a flavorful carrot, a bit more spicy, earthy, herbaceous and a little bitter. Peeled and chopped, this colorful root adds a crunchy goodness to salads it also tastes great in sautés and tagines. If orange fingertips bother you be sure to wear gloves while chopping, there’s a reason why turmeric is used to dye Buddhist robes “saffron yellow”.
One day I was craving a little of that unique taste and it’s health benefits so I decided to try brewing up a little turmeric water….. it turned out to be absolutely delicious. These days I always have one of my favorite Luminarc pitchers with this refreshing, flavorful water sitting in my refrigerator door. With that added boost of flavor, I find I am drinking more water than ever and the 2 liter size makes it easy for me to make sure I am drinking at least my recommended daily amount.
To make it I put about a tablespoon of peeled and chopped fresh turmeric and a few grinds of black pepper {the pepper helps the body to absorb the curcumin} into a heat~safe pitcher and then add about a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 1/2 hour or so. After that, I fill the pitcher to the top with filtered water and it’s ready to drink.
Speaking of Tagines, I just love these miniature Tagines I found on Amazon, they add an exotic element of blue and white to the table when I use them as salt cellars. They come from an America~Tunisian company here in Washington state called Le Souk Ceramique, I dare you not to fall in love with their ravishing hand~painted designs.
Here’s to your health!
Yumm!