Turmeric as an aromatic medicinal plant was known to Indians since ancient times. Many scientists and historians argue that the South Asia is the original home of Turmeric, from there it might have spread to countries in the South East Asia and pacific islands where Turmeric is cultivated. It was recorded that turmeric was grown wildly in the forest regions of Java, Indonesia as early as 5th century AD. There are Sanskrit texts belong to 5 and 6th centuries AD describe the usages of turmeric. Marco Polo mention the usages of Turmeric in China. Turmeric is widely cultivated mainly in India , China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Java, Brazil, Peru, many parts of Africa and Australia.

TURMERIC MEMORIES

My Yellow birth

When I started thinking about how deep I am associated in my life with the Malayalam word for Turmeric,  Manja, I felt like I am jumping into an yellow ocean of seemingly endless memories because the word Manja is also used for Yellow color in Malayalam. The earliest story I could remember about Manja was associated with my birth itself.