Main content

Turmeric: The golden spice

From curries to capsules, turmeric has been used in food and medicines for thousands of years. I has often believed to have health-giving properties. But do those claims stack up?

Turmeric has been revered for thousands of years, not just for its mellow taste but for its golden colour and its supposed health giving properties.

Rumella Dasgupta looks at its history, its uses in food and medicine and talks to scientists who have studied the spice. She finds out what they've learned about its fabled medicinal qualities and whether it's really worth paying for expensive turmeric lattes and turmeric supplements.

Featuring Dr Kathryn Nelson, Prof Amit Garg, Ragini Kayshap and Seema and Sarla Nagpaul.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

Producer: Lexy O'Connor
Sound mix by Annie Gardiner

(Image: a teaspoon of golden turmeric powder sits on a spoon, against a bright green background. Credit: G/ Getty Simonkr)

Available now

26 minutes

Last on

Sun 9 Nov 2025 18:32GMT
麻豆社 World Service News Internet

More episodes

Previous

The chefs

Next

Food by drones?

See all episodes from The Food Chain

Featured

  • .

Broadcasts

  • Thu 6 Nov 2025 04:32GMT
    麻豆社 World Service
  • Thu 6 Nov 2025 13:32GMT
    麻豆社 World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
  • Thu 6 Nov 2025 18:32GMT
    麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Thu 6 Nov 2025 23:32GMT
    麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Sun 9 Nov 2025 09:32GMT
    麻豆社 World Service except Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
  • Sun 9 Nov 2025 18:32GMT
    麻豆社 World Service News Internet

Food Chain highlights

Tea, coffee, spices, chillies ... snack on a selection of programme highlights

Podcast