{farmers market turmeric root}

have you ever seen turmeric root like this before?

i was fascinated when i spotted this at my local farmer’s market. when i go to visit, there is one stand in particular that i like to frequent. the lady who owns it is so sweet and always has a ton of good information on her products and she is always willing to answer my and all of my questions. it seems that the prices for produce at farmers’ markets are sometimes half the price of grocery stores or health food markets, which is just another reason why i love to support the farmers!!!

a few other reasons i choose to put my money into farmers markets are as follows : accessibility, freshness, availability, integrity, seasonality, friendliness, knowledge, willingness, and as i mentioned, affordability.

i had never seen turmeric root in this form, and i couldn’t wait to pick some up to take fotos of. sometimes i’ve seen parts of it broken off into larger and smaller pieces, but not in a huge chunk like this. i have been wanting to incorporate turmeric into my diet more frequently, particularly because i have been experiencing some pain in my elbow lately. and as you may know, turmeric is known for having anti-inflammatory properties. i am hoping that by consuming turmeric regularly, the pain in my elbow will substantially subside.

i thought it would be fun to share these fotos of turmeric, since it is so intriguing to look at! check out all the ‘knobs’ and ‘nodules’ and the funny/fascinating shapes it takes on and how it forms that way. i love all root vegetables, and when i find something in its natural state, i get even more excited about it. did you catch that cool post about ginger-root? i just love going to the farmer’s market and i one day hope to have a nice big garden in my backyard, as to grow lots of wonderful food. i basically want to be a farmer.

one of the things i’ve been doing with turmeric lately is making tea, which i am just loving! have you ever tried turmeric tea? i have been wanting to try it for so long now, but as with anything “new,” i tend to get intimidated until i actually just go for it! and i’m so glad i finally did! i made some tea with this beautiful chunk of turmeric, and i loved it so much that i wanted to share the recipe.

you can usually find fresh turmeric at health food stores. or if you have access to one, check at your local farmers market, as well. some of my research has discovered that you can also use the ground spice to make turmeric tea, however i prefer the fresh stuff. it’s definitely more time-consuming, but for me, it’s so worth it. plus, i just love the creative process. having said that, to be even more economical, you could make it with a mix of fresh and dried root.

super simple health-boosting turmeric tea :

ingredients :

     • fresh turmeric root

     • coconut milk

     • local honey

     • cinnamon

preparation :

     • scrub and rinse turmeric root using gloves, as to avoid any staining

     • chop turmeric into small pieces {you can peel if desired, though i do not}

     • cover turmeric with water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil

     • reduce heat and let turmeric simmer for at least half hour, up to 2 hours

     • allow to cool and strain turmeric tea into desired container

     • store in refrigerator for up to 4 weeks

consuming :

i like to heat my tea in the mornings, as i’m trying to cut back on my coffee intake. i simply use a ratio of 1:1 using turmeric tea and coconut milk. then i add in a tablespoon of local honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon. sometimes i add the cinnamon at the end, but it doesn’t really matter; there’s not necessarily a right or wrong way… just trust your gut!

i warm up my turmeric tea in a small saucepan on the stovetop for a few minutes and then pour and enjoy. it’s so comforting and tastes similar to something like chai. you could even add ginger in with it, as well, which i may try next time i make a batch. some recipes call for adding lemon and omitting the coconut milk. i like adding the coconut milk, as it gives it a soothing creamy taste and also for the added nutrients that coconut milk offers. 

please keep in mind that i don’t like to spend a lot of time measuring or focusing too much on specifics. you can use the ‘taste and go’ method… add more water if you need to, or more turmeric if you need to. the key is to take pleasure in the process and experiment with your own palate.

i hope you enjoyed this recipe and i would love to know if you end up trying it! please leave any feedback or comments or suggestions. i love hearing from you!

turmeric fun facts : 

turmeric is in the same family as ginger, which is why it looks similar and grows similar. it is considered a tropical plant, and the root itself is what is harvested. turmeric root boasts having high anti-oxidant benefits as well as being excellent in supporting healthy cells. it is also known for being rich in curcumin, which gives it that wonderful orange colour, along with its anti-inflammatory properties. turmeric root provides essential vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin c, iron, and potassium. if consumed regularly, it can also give our skin a healthy glow from within. furthermore, when ground into a spice, turmeric is also a fantastic cooking tool, as seen in many middle eastern recipes like curry. 

Tags: cooking, Farmers Market, food, food and foto, food photography, foodography, health, healthy, healthy cooking, healthy eating, organic, photography, produce, recipes, tea, turmeric, turmeric tea