Turmeric is one of the most important spices we use in everyday cooking. It has so many health benefits and is commonly used to heal Cold and cough in infants. When my kids were small and when I started to give them turmeric milk to heal their sour throat, I was really thinking about making homemade turmeric powder as I was very uncomfortable using readymade powder, after hearing about it being adulterated.
So I started growing turmeric at home. Every year, usually at the time of June, fresh turmeric will start sprouting and we should plant them at that time .It will take six months to grow and when it is ready, the plant will start wilting and leaves will become yellowish brown and become dry. This happens during end of December and is then ready to harvest.
This method is what my maternal grandmother used to follow-
Method:
-Take fresh turmeric rhizomes, remove mud, extra roots etc. Wash it several times until it is clean.
-Now slice those rhizomes.
-Take one cooker vessel and put all these sliced pieces and steam cook (without cooker weight) in a cooker or idly steamer for 10 to 15 minutes.
-Remove this and dry under the sun for 2 to 3 days or until it is crisp. Usually it takes 2 to 3 days.
-When it is crisp, take small mixer jar and powder it.
– Sieve this and collect fine powder and repeat this process until all the dried slices are powdered.
-Store this in a dry airtight container.
Darpana December 12, 2017
Thanks for sharing such a nice information. Keep bringing more.
Shrikripa U December 12, 2017
Thank you so much Darpana.
Archana June 24, 2020
Hi mam no need to remove it’s outer layer(cover)
Shrikripa U June 24, 2020
No need to remove it’s outer layer. Wash properly and use it. That is how my grand mom used to do and i follow her.
Marshallene Iris February 3, 2025
Hello Ms. Shrikripa,
I have the pleasure of getting to know Sahana and your sister Nidhi who sent me your blog page. I love your culture and recipes and love to use the spices in my cooking. I grew turmeric for the first time and was excited at how much I harvested. I was going to just wash and cut up for freezing, but Nidhi told me that in your culture you make your own ground turmeric. I see that you dry in the sun, but can I dehydrate in my dehydrator, that is how I dehydrate all my herbs because it would not be a great to leave any thing out in the sun to dry here in Matthews NC.
Please advise because I too want to grow turmeric every year now that I know that I can. I use it in my cooking and home made remedies and ginger /turmeric shots that we take daily. Thank you for your response and looking forward to following your blogs.
Kind regards
Marshallene
Shrikripa U February 5, 2025
Hello Marshallene, I’m glad to hear about your interest in growing your own Turmeric and trying to process it as purely as possible. Yes! You can use dehydrators. The point to be noted is that steamed turmeric must be dried out and broken into pieces, like dried chips. Then, you can use a food processor or coffee grinder to make a powder. Hope, you are clear with your doubt. Happy gardening.
Kind regards
Shrikripa