Turmeric, the Golden Spice: from Asia to Africa
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ISSN: 2687-8402 DOI: 10.33552/OAJAA.2020.02.000540 Open Access Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology Review Article Copyright © All rights are reserved by Dr Gerelene Jagganath Turmeric, The Golden Spice: From Asia to Africa Dr Gerelene Jagganath* Department of Anthropology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa *Corresponding author: Dr Gerelene Jagganath, Department of Anthropology, Received Date: June 10, 2020 University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Published Date: July 07, 2020 Abstract in the past decade, yet sparse documented information on the uses of turmeric in traditional health remedies, food preparation, crafts and other Global interest in medical/scientific, ethno-botanical and culinary studies relating to the ‘golden spice’ turmeric has significantly increased craft and traditional healing uses of turmeric. The researcher draws upon available literature and websites on the local cultivation, customs and customs on the African continent specifically, is also noted. This paper attempts to overview literary and internet sources on the African culinary, cuisine relating to turmeric in five African countries (north of the equator), namely Tanzania (in the East), Nigeria (in the West), Morocco (in the North) and, Ethiopia and Somalia (in Horn of Africa). Some fieldwork experiences relating to Nigerian immigrant communities in the city of Durban, South Africa is also included. The paper comprises two parts, the first part briefly examines the early history, customs and uses of turmeric in Asia, andKeywords: the second Turmeric, part focuses Africa, on Culinary,the how turmeric Asia, Spice, has Traditional been locally Healing, produced Customs in Africa and its influence on health, culinary and other cultural practices. Introduction Turmeric (also referred to as curcumin), known by its Latin like cancer (Kumar & Sakhya, 2017). Curcuma longa, is a perennial root plant of the ginger eficial to mankind, from its’ use in daily cuisine to treating diseases family Reddi [1]. Curcumin is often credited with being the reason In The Book of Spices, Rosengarten (1969: 6-11) refers to Indus classification, turmeric has any medicinal value at all. However, this may simply Valley excavations and ancient cuneiform scrolls in Assyria (668- be due to the fact that curcumin is considered the main active and 633BC), where in the great library of Nineveh, it is revealed that important component of turmeric. aromatic plants including thyme, cardamom, saffron, coriander, myrrh and turmeric among others were used. The cultivation of The exact origin of turmeric is not known but it is believed to be turmeric in this region may be traced to as early as the 18th cen- native to Southern India and Indonesia. Turmeric has been used for tury BC in the gardens of Babylon, where the seeds of such spices thousands of years and has become an integral part of South Asian food, culture and traditional medicine. As a spice, food preserva- ll (721-710BC) of Babylonia was known to have cultivated turmer- tive and colouring agent it has been and continues to be extensively were introduced through Indian influence. King Merodac–Baladan ic along with 64 other different plant species in his royal gardens. used in India. It is widely consumed as a dietary spice, a dietary The author elaborates how turmeric appears in some of the earli- pigment, and an Indian folk medicine for the treatment of various est known records of plants in medicine. It was reportedly listed illnesses. It has been and is still used in Hindu religious ceremonies in the Ebers Papyrus from Egypt, circa 1500 BC, for use as a dye and rituals in India and the Indian diaspora as well as in the textile and in healing wounds. This is one of the earliest surviving records and pharmaceutical industries of South Asia and other parts of the of medicinal plant use. It is believed to have been cultivated in world. The diverse usage of Curcuma longa rhizome powder is ben This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License Page 1 of 6 OAJAA.MS.ID.000540. Open Access Journal of Archaeology & Anthropology Volume 2-Issue 3 texts have described it as an aromatic stimulant and carminative. - the Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient turmeric was an important herb in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine es are ancient Velayudhan [3]. Historically, turmeric has been used World, possibly as early as the 8th century BC. Closer to its origin, Medicinal properties of turmeric are innumerable and the practic and was listed in an Ayurvedic compendium text around 250 BC. as a medicine for numerous ailments which continue to be utilized Some four centuries later it was included in what is considered to - Ayurvedic healing system, the western world did not recognize its today. While turmeric has always been an important part of the piled in China in 659 AD. Ayurvedic medicine employed turmeric be the world’s first pharmacopoeia, the Tang Materia Medica, com for the digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems. It is used to the 20th century. One of the key mentions about turmeric in western medicinal qualities nor its benefit as a spice until the latter part of and arthritis. Chinese medicine uses turmeric for moving Qi (life a plant which had all the characteristics of saffron but was a root. treat indigestion, purify the blood and quell intestinal gas, cough civilization was by Marco Polo (1280) who claimed that he found force or vital energy in the body) and blood in the treatment of epi- In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is considered a balancing gastric and abdominal pain, various menstrual irregularities and doshas, or humors in the swellings and trauma Bunting [2]. body, namely, vata (air), pitta kapha (water). Ayurvedic agent, achieving equilibrium among three The early transportation of spices and luxury goods through healers use turmeric as medicine taken internally in the form of (fire) and several ancient trade routes from India to the western world and fresh juice, boiled tea, tinctures, or powder, and topically as creams, lotions, pastes, and ointments. Its long tradition in both Indian and Africa, included: the South-North sea route from the West coast of day Teheran through to various river and seaports to Antioch, the India to Egypt and the Mediterranean; the Silk Road from modern Chinese medicine refers to its use as an anti-inflammatory agent This spice was also used to help with stomach and liver problems to treat gas, colic, toothache, chest pain and menstrual difficulties. st century AD an active spice and to heal wounds and lighten scars Gupta et al. [4]. Traditional- Persian Gulf and Petra; the Incense Route from South Arabia to the trade that developed between the Roman empire with South Arabia, ly, it has also been recognized in enhancing the beauty and health markets of Syria and Egypt; and in the 1 - of the skin. Turmeric paste has been and continues to be used for tury Rome increased trade with India, breaking the Arab monopo- cosmetic purposes, on the face and body to improve the skin and East Africa (Somaliland) and India. Towards the end of the first cen ly and the increased commerce led to greater indulgence in spices improve blemishes in local communities worldwide. and culinary excess. Rosengarten (1969), on the early appearance - of turmeric in Roman cuisine, elaborates how the spice was used by zome, namely, by crushing it into a powder or extruding an oil. The Apicius, a well-known gourmet and epicure of the time who… is re- There are two main methods for processing turmeric’s rhi former method involves it being cleaned, then boiled and left out to ported to have spent vast sums to satisfy his cravings for exotic foods, wrote 10 books on the art of cooking. His culinary experiences were The oil on the other hand, is extracted from the rhizome prior to compiled several centuries later in a work entitled De Re Coquinaria. dry. Once the rhizome has dried out, it is ground into a fine powder. being dehydrated and is often used as an essential oil or in cooking His recipes included numerous spices intended to preserve food, aid digestion and improve the flavor of the dull Roman fare…He featured not only such imported spices as pepper, turmeric and ginger in his as a Theflavoring herb itselfor coloring grows agentto a little Nisar more [5]. than 3 feet in height, pro- recipes but also various temperate herbs then cultivated in the Ro- man Empire (Ibid:12). There is however, scarce evidence stating its used part of the plant and the source of both the spice and bright ducing both a rhizome and a flower. The rhizome (root) is the most usage and importance in other parts of Europe. yellow dye. In addition to its uses in Hinduism and Buddhism, Ha- waiian shamans have also use turmeric extensively in their reli- Asian Origins: India and China gious and medicinal practices. In Japan, particularly in the region Turmeric in ancient India has always been considered an aus- of Okinawa, turmeric tea has been drunk for centuries as a health picious plant, both amongst the Aryan cultures (mostly northern) tonic beverage Kojima et al. [6]. and the Dravidian cultures (mostly southern), and its value extends far in history to the beliefs of ancient indigenous peoples. Turmer- Customs haldi, derives from the Sanskrit ha- Considered highly auspicious in India, turmeric is used in ev- ridra, and in the south it is called manjal ery region of the sub-continent for weddings and other religious ic’s common name in the north, used in ancient Tamil literature. Turmeric has been considered a ceremonies (Gupta et al, 2013). In Hindu wedding ceremonies, the , a word that is frequently medicinal plant widely used in the Unani, Siddha, Himalayan and roots are known to be gifted to pregnant women and in nuptial cus- Ayurvedic - toms, the bride and bridegroom are anointed with turmeric paste ry diseases (Nisar et al, 2015).