What is turmeric?

Turmeric is a spice that comes from the turmeric plant. It is commonly used in Asian food. You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry. It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavour or color curry powders. The root of turmeric is also used widely in Ayurveda. It contains a yellow-coloured chemical called curcumin, which is the active ingredient in turmeric.