Mamta, what is the difference between white and yellow turmeric? Aside from the obvious that one is white and the other yellow, what is white turmeric used for?

It appears white Turmeric is more common in South East Asia and tends to be much more pungent than yellow.

Another site also seems to mention two different kinds of white turmeric that are quite different to each other (one claiming its good for bowl problems and the other a cure for cancer no less ! )

Steve

Hello Andrew

I don't know what white turmeric is :-(! I know a root very similar to turmeric, but more beige in colour than yellow. It's flesh smells like fresh, raw mango (not ripe mango), whihc is very nice in Green Mango (not ripe ones)Chutney. In our house, my mum used it when green mangoes were out of season.

This root is called 'Aam Adi', translated it means 'mango ginger'. I wonder if you mean this one?

Mamta

Thanks for the replies so far. Mamta, I have never heard of what you described, but it sounds interesting. I bought some white turmeric a while back and it doesn't taste or smell of mango. I have eaten it and it does taste quite strong as AskCY mentioned. I was just curious really as to what it's culinary uses are.

I bought 1 KG of fresh yellow turmeric a few days ago and I can't stop eating it, its delicious grated into a salad. The trouble is that it has a tendency to stain my fingers for a day after grating it. There must be something in it because someone told me that it's good for your skin, so I applied some of the juice to a little dermatitis that I have and not only did it take the stinging away but it seems to be healing up too.

Fresh turmeric is indeed very nice. It is well recognised in India as a healing spice and used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine. It is used to heal many heal skin conditions in India. Add it to chickpea flour or besan, along with a little milk and rub it into skin as an exfoliant. Very nice. Indian brides use it for a week or longer, before their wedding!

Next time you have a cough, add some to warm milk, sweeten it with honey and drink it. If you have pains and aches, drink it in warm glass of milk. My mum and family in India swear by it. My nephew came to stay last night. His little son was coughing. So, the first thing he did was give him a little turmeric in warm milk. It is also a good anti-inflammatory.

Mamta

Personal experience has proved Turmeric as an antiseptic - mix it with some flour and appli; any internal minor injury, drink it with warm milk, it is also supposed to have anti-inflamatory ingredients

there is also a rhizome (like ginger and haldi) which is called zedoary. Known as Amb halad in Hindi, botanical name is Curcuma zedoaria. It is known as white turmeric.

I would like to know if white Tumeric is as effective as yellow Tumeric. What is the main difference between the two types.

I don't know what white turmeric is, unless you are talking about turmeric root that has white flesh and smells like green mango when sliced and it is called Amaba Haldi (Mango turmeric) or Aam Adi (Mango ginger). It is often used in dishes that need raw mango flavour, when mango is out of season. My father used to grow Aam Aadi and we used it in green coriander-mint chutney when green mangoes were not available. It looks like turmeric or ginger root from outside.

I think the white one is also known as Zedoary. I tried posting links several times a couple of days ago but my posts came up blank.

Here is a ling for Zedory; http://theepicentre.com/spice/white-turmeric-zedoary/

Mamta- yes, both of 'em same. I got to know about this white turmeric a few days ago. One of my friends used this as a chutney (with some mint and coriander leaves), and he calls this turmeric Aam Imli (mango tamarind). Also, you can use some juliennes of white turmeric (sprinkled with some salt if you like) as a side. It goes pretty nice with daal (lentils/ beans) and rice or in a salad.