What is Turmeric

Turmeric is part of the ginger family. It’s a flowering plant and the turmeric root is used for cooking, mixing, sprinkling, brewing – in its original form or ground into powder. Turmeric has a warm and peppery flavour, that brings an edge to hot dishes, teas and other drinks, and a super power within it called curcumin, an active ingredient with powerful health benefits.

The healer

In the West we have only recently regarded turmeric as a health booster, traditionally using it to add flavour and colour. The more we learn more about turmeric’s health benefits, the more we love it. We’re very new to this; in India and other parts of Asia, turmeric is a well established medical supplement. In Ayurvedic medicine turmeric is considered a healing food, used for respiratory and skin conditions; many asian cultures have long considered turmeric to combat inflammation, reduce cell damage, and perhaps hold anticancer properties.

Our obsession

Discovering new attractions in an old favourite is a wonderful thing. Turmeric has been used in western culture for centuries, but understanding its therapeutic benefits is new. We’ve discovered this pantry staple is anti-inflammatory, has antioxidants, could help with liver function and more. The more we learned, the more we loved it.

Of course, labelling turmeric a superfood only fed our obsession and along came even more ways to consume it. Turmeric supplements hit the vitamin shelves. Golden lattes blended turmeric with coffee culture. And the latest, in a clever combination of medicinal benefits and lifestyle moments, SHŌJŌ turmeric tonic.