Is your Turmeric really healthy?
A pinch of Turmeric is enough to add a punch of taste, colour and health to any delicacy. But is your Turmeric really pure and healthy?
Since ages, Turmeric also known as Haldi has been an inseparable part of Indian cuisine. There’s no denying that Turmeric is one of the most potent spices which has been used over centuries for its medicinal and healing properties. Over the years, commercial production of spices have surged the cases of adulteration, even in the context of day-to-day food ingredients like Turmeric, mustard oil, ghee to name a few. Here’s all you need to know about Turmeric and its purity?
Why and how Turmeric is adulterated?
Commonly used as a coloring and flavouring agent in Indian cooking, Turmeric is also used as a secret ingredient in Ayurvedic medicines for its therapeutic properties. This is the reason why this common spice is used extensively. Thus, there are high chances of adulterated Turmeric which is often mixed with artificial colors, dyes, Metanil yellow, Lead Chromate to give that perfect bright colour and smooth texture. In some cases, chalk powder, raw rhizomes or even wild turmeric is used to make edible Haldi powder, which is unfit for consumption.
How to check the purity of Turmeric powder at home ?
Turmeric is used as an essential ingredient in day-to-day cooking and home remedies. So, it becomes important to test the quality of Turmeric powder and ensure whether it is polished with dyes or chemicals to give that perfect colour and texture.
How to check the purity of Turmeric powder at home ?
Turmeric is used as an essential ingredient in day-to-day cooking and home remedies. So, it becomes important to test the quality of Turmeric powder and ensure whether it is polished with dyes or chemicals to give that perfect colour and texture.
Lead Chromate Test
To test the presence of chemicals in Turmeric powder, mix a teaspoon of Haldi powder with water. If it settles down at the bottom and turns pale yellow, then it is real. On the other hand, adulterated Haldi powder will turn dark yellow after putting it in water.
Metanil Test
To check whether your Turmeric is polished with the bright Metanil yellow. Add a pinch of turmeric powder to a test tube, add a few drops of strong Hydrochloric acid. Shake it well. If the solution turns pink it indicates that there’s a strong presence of Metanil, which may cause food poisoning, stomach cramps, nausea and indigestion.
Hand test
Just put a pinch of turmeric powder on your palm and massage it with the thumb of your other hand for 10-20 seconds. If the Turmeric is pure, it will leave a yellowish stain on your hand.
Water Test
Another simple test that you can do in a few minutes at home. Take a glass jug filled with warm water, then add 1 teaspoon of Turmeric and let it settle down. If the Turmeric powder settles down at the bottom of the jug. Then the Turmeric is real, but if it ends up mixing with the water and turns dark yellow, then it’s time to discard it!
Metal and chalk powder test
Lead Chromate Test
To test the presence of chemicals in Turmeric powder, mix a teaspoon of Haldi powder with water. If it settles down at the bottom and turns pale yellow, then it is real. On the other hand, adulterated Haldi powder will turn dark yellow after putting it in water.
Metanil Test
To check whether your Turmeric is polished with the bright Metanil yellow. Add a pinch of turmeric powder to a test tube, add a few drops of strong Hydrochloric acid. Shake it well. If the solution turns pink it indicates that there’s a strong presence of Metanil, which may cause food poisoning, stomach cramps, nausea and indigestion.
Chalk Powder Test
Turmeric is also adulterated with powdered chalk and to check that you need to add a teaspoon of Turmeric powder in a test tube along with a few drops of water and Hydrochloric acid. If there are bubbles in the solution, then you must throw away the turmeric as it indicates the presence of chalk powder in your Turmeric powder.
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