Turmeric (Curcuma
longa)
& its Products
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| About Turmeric |
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Turmeric is a rhizome
with commercial value due to its properties as a Colorant,
Flavoring and Nutraceutical .Contains zingiberene, ar-turmerone,
ar-curcumene, sabinene, 1,8-cineol, pinene and beta-sesquiphellandrene.
There are many American, Japanese & world patents on Turmeric
pertaining to clinical & culinary uses. There
are two types of turmeric produced in central India. One has solid and
dark color
and the other long, soft and light color. In
ayurvedic system of medicine, therapeutical value of turmeric has been
well recognized. |
| Processing of Turmeric |
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The process followed: Washing, Boiling,
Blanching ,Cooking, Drying, Polishing, Coloring, Grading, Packing and Storage.Turmeric Oleoresin: Turmeric oleoresin is the organic extract of
turmeric, a ground powder from the root of the Curcuma
plant, and is added to food items as a spice and coloring agent.
Supercritical CO2 extraction and molecular distillation-to
extract and separate turmeric is the latest high technology process
followed to get quality product. |
| Quality Standards |
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Quality depends on the pigment (curcumin) content, the
organoleptic character, the general appearance, size and physical form
of the rhizome.US Government Standards and the American Spice Trade
Association Standards:
Moisture content % <9
Curcumin % 5-6.6
Extraneous matter % (by weight) <0.5
Mould % <3
Volatile oil ml/100g <3.5 |
| Status of Industry |
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India, Bangladesh, Taiwan and
China are the countries producing Turmeric.In India
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, West Bengal and Assam are Turmeric
growing states. The major producing centres in Tamil Nadu are Coimbatore,
Dharmapuri, Salem( Athur, Omaloor and Tiruchengodu) Erode (Bhavani,
Gopichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam and Kodumudi), Namakkal and Villupuram.
The country has 185.32 lakh hectares under turmeric with a total
production of 701.66 lakh tonnes. India exported 21,265.29 tonnes
of dry turmeric (Rs 42.10 crore) and 13,734.71 tonnes of turmeric powder
(Rs 42.52 crores) taking the total to Rs 84.63 crores during 2001/2 |
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