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This guide explains the differences between white turmeric and yellow turmeric and shares different ways to consume turmeric and curcumin.
Have you ever discovered a spice so versatile and packed with benefits that it instantly becomes a staple in your kitchen?
For me, that spice is turmeric. While it’s a well-kept secret in Western cuisine, turmeric’s vibrant colors and incredible nutritional perks have made it one of my go-to ingredients.
Now, here’s a twist: did you know that turmeric isn’t just one golden hue? There’s also white turmeric, and while they may look similar (color aside), these two varieties have distinct characteristics that set them apart.
So, join me as we explore the fascinating world of turmeric, uncovering the unique traits and benefits of both white and yellow turmeric. There’s much more to this marvelous herb than just adding a dash of flavor to your favorite curry!
White Turmeric vs Yellow Turmeric
When recipes refer to turmeric, this is usually yellow turmeric, as it’s the most common of the two. In fact, many people aren’t even aware that white turmeric exists.
Both yellow and white turmeric are members of the ginger family, but there are some differences between the two.
Yellow Turmeric
Native to southwest India, yellow turmeric is the root of the Curcuma longa plant. It has a brown/yellow skin and has orange/yellow flesh. It is often referred to as “Indian saffron”.
Yellow turmeric smells a bit like a mix of ginger and orange with a somewhat peppery and bitter flavor. The yellow color is caused by the high levels of curcumin (see further below) in turmeric.
Yellow turmeric is mostly known in powder form. The powder is created by boiling, drying, and grinding the root into an orange and yellow-colored powder.
Be careful when using yellow turmeric (especially the powder form), as it can easily cause stains on your clothes!
White Turmeric
White turmeric is often referred to as Zedoaria or Amba Haldi, which is the Hindi name for this spice.
It is the root of the Curcuma zedoaria plant. The Curcuma zedoaria plant is native to India and Indonesia but has also been cultivated in Europe and the US.
White turmeric has lighter flesh, and its flavor is very similar to that of ginger, but with a more bitter aftertaste.
Although white turmeric nowadays is rarely used anymore as a spice and is often replaced by ginger, it is still used in Asian cuisine. In Indonesia, white turmeric powder is often added to curry dishes.
In Thailand, freshly sliced white turmeric is used as an ingredient in salads. In Indian cuisine, fresh white turmeric is also used as an ingredient in popular dishes.
Fresh Turmeric vs Dried Turmeric
Cooking with turmeric can be quite challenging, especially if you haven’t used it much before. Turmeric has a very strong flavor, so you need to be confident about when to use it and also how much.
Another question is whether to use fresh or dried turmeric. As with anything, fresh is always best, as that’s how you’ll be able to better enjoy the nutritional benefits.
Dried or ground turmeric is, of course, a bit easier to use. No need to cut anything; just apply it to whatever dish you’re preparing. The drawback is that dried turmeric can lose some flavor and nutritional content.
I typically use fresh turmeric for smoothies and let my blender mix it nicely with other fruits and vegetables. I like to use dried turmeric (powder) to marinate meat, together with other ingredients.
I love cooking different meals daily, and using turmeric, or other spices and herbs, is often a trial-and-error process. And the more you experiment, the more you’ll learn about what works and what doesn’t work so well.
Another one of my favorites is to add dried turmeric to rice, just to add some color and mild flavor to it. Works great!
Turmeric Supplements
The other option is to go for turmeric supplements that contain curcumin as the key ingredient. When you buy a turmeric supplement, make sure that you read the label properly, as not all turmeric supplements are the same.
Be sure to read my article about the ingredients and effectiveness of turmeric and curcumin supplements so you can decide which ones are best for you.
- 500MG CURCUMINOIDS: Our Curcumin is made from organic turmeric root and organic...
- ENHANCED ABSORPTION: Curcumin by itself is poorly absorbed by the body. Our...
- SUPPORTS JOINT HEALTH: Turmeric is a common ingredient found in joint support...
Turmeric and Curcumin
One of the most essential elements of turmeric is curcumin. The terms turmeric and curcumin often get mixed up even though they are two different things.
Curcumin is the most beneficial compound in turmeric and has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for many centuries, mainly in India and China.
It is curcumin that has made turmeric so well-known and popular in Asian countries. Western medicine has also slowly been studying the positive effects of turmeric and curcumin on our health.
Turmeric root contains around 2-5% curcumin. So, if you’re using turmeric powder purely for its health benefits, you would need to consume quite a large amount of powder to make the most of it.
It’s more efficient in that case to use a curcumin extract rather than consuming turmeric powder.
Benefits of Curcumin?
While not all of the health benefits of curcumin have been clinically proven, this compound has been known to reduce chronic pain and inflammation, among other benefits.
Studies have also shown that curcumin can be effective in managing depression symptoms. Curcumin helps to increase the serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, known as “feel good” neurotransmitters.
It must be pointed out that studies have shown that taking large doses of turmeric or curcumin for a longer period can have side effects, such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
How to Store Turmeric
Fresh turmeric can be treated the same way as ginger. If you buy a large amount of turmeric and you won’t be using all of it in the short term, you can easily freeze it.
Simply cut the roots into smaller sizes and leave them in the freezer.
Turmeric won’t lose much (if anything at all) of its nutritional or medicinal properties. I’m actually not sure how long you can keep it frozen, but I’ve had turmeric frozen for over two months, and it was still good to use.
For shorter-term use, you can simply put turmeric in an airtight container or plastic bag and keep it in the fridge for a maximum of two weeks.
Read my guide on how to store ginger with practical tips for keeping ginger (and turmeric) fresh.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this article has encouraged you to start experimenting with this tasty herb. White and yellow turmeric offer interesting benefits, and there are many different ways to add it to your diet.
As a smoothie fan, I love adding small doses of turmeric (and ginger) to my smoothie recipes. It’s a quick and easy way to enjoy the benefits.
Turmeric can also be used as a powerful ingredient in tea. I found this delicious turmeric tea recipe, with turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and honey. It works great when you have a bad cold or flu!
Since nomenclature is important it should be pointed out that turmeric is a spice not an herb. Spices are from roots, rhizomes, seeds, barks etc while herbs are leaves. Since we are talking about the rhizome here and not the leaf it would be classified as an herb.
Your information on yellow-white turmeric to layman is great.
Where does the black turmeric stand compared to the better known yellow and white turmeric? I am working on organically grown black turmeric.
I have recently been making some mixed fruit jams. As the fruits were all yellow I mixed in some yellow turmeric just to see how it worked. Wow it is a great addition. I don’t use the normal amount of sugar in my jams as I like them tart not sweet. This turmeric mixed fruit jam is a hit at my place. It has loquat, carambola and kumquat.
Thanks for sharing Robyn, sounds like something I should try!
I am going to try and add it to my soup this evening. I was led to buy some fresh turmeric today and I am with a pretty bad cold. Thanks for your help, blessings.
Good presentation for the Curcuma roots.
I am familiar with the yellow turmeric and just recently learned of the white turmeric. There is also a black turmeric, Curcuma caesia. I want to use the fresh roots for their medicinal benefits but all the information about its use is rather vague on the quantity and frequency. I suppose we are just to experiment until the right combination is achieved however; I prefer to rely on the experience of the ancients and their knowledge when it can be found. I am growing the yellow variety but would like to locate the live roots to grow the other two, white and black. Our country’s official lack of concern for anything that isn’t pharmaceutical prevents any reliable research to verify its proper use which is why it’s nice to gather as much information as possible.
Thanks for your article.
Thanks so much Steve. I had actually never heard of the black turmeric variety so I will have a look into that!
Interested in the turmeric you have mentioned. I’ve been using the yellow and have a couple of plants growing in my greenhouse but also interested in the black and white.
Thanks,
Carole
I got a handful of Pure White Turmeric about 7 years ago and I grow them in my backyards and I live in San Jose California.
I bought some of the white and the yellow turmeric root from a local Indian grocery store today ~$4.00/lb. Whole Foods has the “organic” yellow turmeric root for ~$15.00/lb. Call your local Asian markets to see which varieties if any, they carry.
I have just discovered white turmeric which I never knew existed. I will be delighted to send you the roots if allowed by your country, thank you.
I am currently cultivating yellow, white and black turmeric. More information will follow soon.
You probably should have explained the most important difference: the nutritive value comparison between yellow turmeric and white turmeric. Since the yellow-orange color generally indicates more anti-inflammatory power in most foods and is one of the big reasons people consume yellow turmeric, one has to wonder if there is nearly as much, if any, in the white turmeric.
The white is like ginger and turmeric so less curcumin but other useful phytochemicals. Like ginger and galangal. Turmeric has more than just curcumin.