Indonesian Turmeric Powder

Turmeric root (Curcuma longa) grown and dried in Indonesia, milled to a fine culinary powder.

Colour is the honest quality test: good turmeric is a deep saturated orange-gold and it stains everything it touches. Pale, mustard-toned powder is old, cut, or low-curcumin stock. Ours is milled from whole dried root rather than from stems and trimmings.

Aroma is earthy and slightly peppery with a bitter edge. Turmeric is a colour-and-depth spice rather than a bright one, which is why it is nearly always used alongside cumin, coriander, ginger or black pepper rather than on its own.

Culinary use: curries, rice, roasted vegetables, spice blends and golden-milk style drinks. A little goes a long way, and too much turns a dish bitter.

Packed in resealable pouches. It will stain plastic, wood and worktops — that is a sign you bought the right thing.