How to distinguish real turmeric from a fake

Not so long ago, people thought that turmeric was a common spice that came to us from the East, used only in cooking. Today, scientists have proven through many years of research that the dried root of this plant can alleviate the condition of patients, restore beauty and youth. Due to its pleasant taste and smell, turmeric has become popular in cooking.

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However, only real spice gives benefits to the body. When buying, you can run into a fake product from unscrupulous sellers. The article talks about the beneficial properties of this unique seasoning, as well as how to choose real turmeric.

Brief description of the spice

Turmeric is a perennial plant in the ginger family. It grows up to 1 m, has long leaves, very similar to our reeds, beautiful flowers of pink or yellow hues. Turmeric has over 100 varieties. The nutritional and medicinal benefits of the multifunctional spice are recognized in the underground part of turmeric of three types: long, fragrant and zeodarium.

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From yellow tubers with a thickness of 4 cm, which have valuable natural ingredients, a golden powder with a specific aroma and taste is obtained. The tubers are dug up, dried well, then subjected to grinding, bringing a homogeneous mass in the form of a powder. In addition to its use in cooking, the spice is in demand among healers of traditional medicine and in the manufacture of cosmetic products.

Therefore, it is important to be able to determine the authenticity of a spicy product, since for application in any of the areas it is necessary to use a natural product.

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Beneficial features

Turmeric is used not only as a unique seasoning for many dishes, but also as a powerful remedy for disorders and diseases. The medicinal properties of the spice were also recognized by traditional medicine.

The demand and popularity of turmeric is due to its rich chemical composition.

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The plant consists of such components, the presence of which gives a therapeutic effect:

• Curcumor is an active substance characterized by the ability to suppress the growth of a malignant tumor in the uterus and mammary gland.
• cineole - menthane oxide - a monocyclic terpene, which has the property of an antiparasitic nature. The substance has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, rids the body of pathogenic microflora.
• Tumeron - an aromatic substance that, along with cinel, helps to eliminate toxic toxins and parasites from the body, inhibits the growth of pathogens, and improves the beneficial microflora in the intestines. Turmeron is able to start the processes of neurogenesis, increase the growth of stem cells in the human brain up to 80%.

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The rich complex composition is a single formula of more than a hundred useful components. This set, created by nature itself, has:

• vitamins;
• mineral compounds;
• essential oils;
• tannins;
• vegetable fiber;
• sugars;
• organic acids and a number of ingredients necessary for the health of the body.

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The vitamin composition of turmeric is shown in the table

Vitamin	Quantity	Benefits for the body
Vitamin B1 or thiamine	0.058 mg	Saturates the body with energy, strengthens the nervous system.
Vitamin B2 or riboflavin	0.15 mg	Participates in carbohydrate metabolism and hematopoiesis, normalizes glucose levels.
Vitamin B4 or choline	49.2 mg	Normalizes the functioning of the nervous system and brain activity, participates in fat metabolism.
Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid	0.542 mg	Regulates energy and fat metabolism.
Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine	0.107 mg	Prevents nervous disorders, promotes the absorption of proteins and lipids, skin regeneration.
Vitamin B9 or folic acid	20 mcg	Participates in the regeneration of skin and muscle tissues, strengthens the immune system.
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid	0.7 mg	Strengthens the immune system and helps fight viruses, reduces muscle pain, promotes tissue repair.
Vitamin E	4.43 mg	Strengthens blood vessels, improves blood circulation, removes toxins.
Vitamin PP, or nicotinic acid	1.35 mg	Reduces cholesterol levels, participates in lipid metabolism, improves metabolism and blood circulation.
Betaine	9.7 mg	It cleanses blood vessels, stabilizes digestion, accelerates the process of fat oxidation, promotes the absorption of vitamins.
Vitamin K. or phylloquinone	13.4 mcg	Regulates redox processes in cells, normalizes blood clotting.

Such a diverse composition with a ratio of proteins, proteins and fats makes it possible to include the spice in nutritional supplements. Many people know that turmeric is used in home remedies for the treatment of colds: sore throats, flu, acute respiratory infections. Home remedies with oriental seasoning help with digestive disorders, liver, hormonal disorders.

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Due to the presence of curcumin in the composition, the product has the effect of active fat burning. For this reason, despite the high calorie content of the spice (325 kcal), it is included in the diet of many weight loss programs. The currently observed "boom" for this seasoning for weight loss leads to an increase in demand among those who want to lose weight without an adverse reaction.

 

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The table below shows the substances of turmeric in 2 teaspoons of seasoning (4.40 g) 

Nutrient	Quantity
calories	15.58 kcal
Squirrels	0.34 g
Carbohydrates	2.86 g
Fats	0.43 g
Water	0.50 g

Research scientists have proven that with the correct use of this natural medicine, there is an opportunity to improve health, it is recommended to use it as a preventive measure to keep the body in good shape. 

1. Turmeric has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, fights the inflammatory process at the molecular level, is not inferior in effectiveness to medications, and there is no side reaction from it.
2. Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, thanks to the chemicals in its composition, it not only neutralizes free radicals, but also acts as a defense against oxidants.
3. With the help of turmeric, memory and brain function are improved, and there is a therapeutic effect on Alzheimer's disease.
4. The plant helps in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, regulates blood pressure, and normalizes blood clotting.
5. The use of products with turmeric promotes the death of cancer cells, while metastasis is reduced.
6. Studies have shown that the seasoning alleviates the condition of patients with arthritis, reduces pain in the knees.
7. Turmeric has proven itself well for depression, stress, it acts as an antidepressant.
8. Include spice in the diet of dietary nutrition to get rid of excess body weight.
9. Spice is an excellent cosmetic product, used as a mask, scrub delivers vitamins and minerals to the deep layers of the epidermis, reduces acne on the face, the skin becomes velvety and tender. The action of turmeric is no worse than expensive creams and cleansing lotions of well-known cosmetic companies.

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With regular use of dietary supplements with a unique spice, aging is restrained, the body is rejuvenated. The list of useful properties can be continued further. Therefore, it is important to check and determine the authenticity of the product before purchasing and applying.

Read also: how to know real honey or not

How to distinguish turmeric from a fake

Unscrupulous merchants have come up with many ways to manufacture fake products for sale. They are sure that buyers on the Russian market know little about oriental spices.

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Turmeric often ends up on the list of popular fakes. There can be no health benefits from using such a product. What methods are used for falsification?

1. The most common option is to use colored flour. The product is not as bright as real turmeric, besides, the fake does not have a specific smell. Usually, when buying a powder in a package, you can come across a fake.
2. Turmeric is mixed with flour or starch.
   

   To give a natural product, two or three parts of flour or starch are added to one part of natural turmeric when mixed. The resulting fake powder will look different from the real oriental seasoning.

   At the same time, its consistency is crumbly, the lumps are unevenly colored, upon careful examination, pale colored grains come across, which is not characteristic of turmeric. There will be differences in both aroma and taste.

3. When buying from private traders on the market, you should always be interested and find out the shelf life of the goods. To give a presentation, expired turmeric can be mixed with flavors and dyes. If the product contains real turmeric, even in small quantities, it is very difficult to establish the falsification of the spice. Often, merchants give out an expired product for fresh Indian spice. Moreover, to enhance the aromatic properties in such a falsification, they add flavorings and food colorings.

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How to distinguish real turmeric from a fake, such a question worries lovers of this seasoning. There are certain ways to detect fake spices. You should pay attention to the following points when buying:

1. This powder has a golden hue, it can be a rich bright orange color. In appearance, real turmeric powder is similar to finely ground granulated sugar, any solid heterogeneous particles and lumps are excluded. Fakes are more pale with a reddish tint.
2. The genuine product has a specific strong smell, which is felt even at a distance, and the taste is bitter. Dyed flour, under the guise of turmeric, will not have any flavor. The opposite effect is also possible when aromatic additives are added. When inhaled, the appetite wakes up, the “look” is intoxicated. Real turmeric has a lingering, bright aroma that is intoxicating when approached to the nose.
3. A quality product will never have lumps, turmeric powder resembles powder.
4. You can check the authenticity using such a test. Pour a pinch of spice into a glass of water, mix, wait a few minutes. If the powder floats to the surface, then this is proof that the product is a fake. With real seasoning, the particles are not able to dissolve completely and will settle to the bottom, the solution will turn a bright orange color, and little powder can be seen on the surface.

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You can follow the recommendations when buying:

1. You can't trust merchants who say that there are different varieties of seasoning that differ in color. Merchants are great actors, they can play any role to deceive the buyer.
2. It is recommended to buy the product only from trusted sellers or take the goods of those brands that you can trust. For example, you can safely purchase Indian funds. Before buying, you should carefully study and find out all the information about the product on the package.
3. The best way to protect against fakes is to buy turmeric root, then you can grind it yourself in a coffee grinder.

Knowing how to authenticate a product, you can check the turmeric and make sure that it is real.

100% method

The spice turmeric powder is easily soluble in water. Pour a glass of warm water, take a spoonful of the powder and stir it in the water.

Undiluted turmeric will dissolve completely, all small particles of powder will disappear, the water will turn the color of a “whitish” brick.

A fake will give out an insoluble precipitate, white flakes on the surface, yellow or red water.

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Homemade Ways to Test Ground Turmeric

Color test. The color of good turmeric is dark orange to bright yellow. If the powder is light or dull yellow in color, it is most likely of poor quality or with foreign additives.

palm test. Place a pinch of turmeric powder in the palm of your left hand. Use your right thumb to rub the powder in for a few seconds.

Real turmeric will stick to the palm of your hand leaving a deep, bright orange color.

Now tilt your left palm to the side perpendicular to the ground. Most of the powder will remain in the palm of your hand. If there was more of it, it may have been mixed with other ingredients, such as chalk.

Smell test. A good ground turmeric will have a distinct but mild earthy flavor. Some will immediately recognize the ginger and orange notes in it. Bad or fake turmeric will not have that flavor. A chalky or fuzzy smell that doesn't quite capture the taste of turmeric indicates that it has been mixed with talc or cornmeal. Or it's just a very low quality turmeric.

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Methanyl yellow test. This is one of the most common turmeric powder impurities from unscrupulous manufacturers. To test for its presence, place a pinch of turmeric powder in a test tube and add a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The color will turn pink. If the pink color disappears when water is added, yellow methanyl is present. It is carcinogenic and toxic.

Chalk powder test. Pour a teaspoon of turmeric powder into a test tube or beaker. Add a few drops of water and then a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid. If there is a hiss, then there is chalk in the seasoning. This can cause indigestion.

Starch test. Add a drop of iodine solution to a small amount of ground turmeric.

Blue color indicates the presence of starch.

Also, the presence of starch can be detected if you have a microscope. Turmeric particles will be yellow, angular and large. Starch particles are pale white, rounded and smaller.

Where could I buy

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You need to buy turmeric in trusted outlets. The most reliable places can be considered specialized stores selling oriental spices and spices. There are good quality products. It is recommended to choose Indian products in packaging that indicates the shelf life.

In the OZONE online store, you can buy ground turmeric in jars and in bags with delivery, there is also a root of a spicy plant in the catalogs.

Turmeric powder is sold in pharmacies in plastic jars.

Curcumin - dietary supplement in capsules can be prescribed through iHerb.

Turmeric tablets from pharmacies are delivered by order by Russian Post.

You can buy ground turmeric in bags for use in the food industry at the Rosplanta company.

You can order seasoning in the Russian Roots online store.

When buying a spicy product in a store, you should pay attention to the barcode. It should consist of 13 digital designations, divided into several parts. Each part carries relevant information:

• the first three digits indicate the country of manufacture;
• the next four characters are the individual code of the company that produced this product;
• then five digits indicate the category of goods;
• and the last digit is the control.

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Turmeric test video

Conclusion

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With proper skill and desire, you can easily identify a fake. It is important to focus on obvious external signs and make inquiries about the useful properties of the original.

In the current situation, the use of this unique spice - a storehouse of vitamins, trace elements will help strengthen the immune system.

What to do if you sold a fake?

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