Every Day is Graced with Turmeric
Turmeric, known scientifically as Curcuma longa, is considered by many to be royalty in the family of medicinal herbs. We have grown turmeric for more than twenty years at our farm, and we are proud that people all over the world have enjoyed the healing benefits of our Demeter-certified Biodynamic turmeric. Our growing method is more than just organic. Guided by biodynamic and regenerative principles, we believe we grow the best turmeric in the world and at the same time sequester carbon in the soil. Everything at our farm is focused on healing the planet by regenerating the soil, and when you visit our turmeric fields you’ll see regenerative agriculture at its best.
Consider just one of the compounds in the plant – curcumin. If you type in “curcumin” in the U. S. National Library of Medicine you’ll find 8877 peer-reviewed scientific references. Or do the same search for “turmeric” – 3579 published references. Once while attending a meeting of scientists in India we heard the chief of surgical oncology at Benares Hindu University declare “Here in India, we are born with turmeric, we are married with turmeric, and we shall die with turmeric. But turmeric belongs to the world!” And we’re glad it came to Costa Rica and that our climate and soil are perfect for its cultivation.
At our farm we use turmeric in many of our recipes. Our organic brown rice is flavored and colored with turmeric. Our cauliflower has a golden glow. Our fried yuca (“cassava”) is crunchy and bright yellow. A favorite with our guests is a turmeric-based salad dressing that’s easy to make. Here’s the recipe:
1 cup White wine vinegar
1 cup of water
1 ½ heads of garlic
1 tsp of black pepper
1 tbsp salt
1 small rhizome of turmeric
2 tsp of dried oregano
1 cup of olive oil
In a blender mix the turmeric, garlic, water, and oil. Add the vinegar and other ingredients and mix well. Add more salt if necessary.
Turmeric’s growing season is approximately 9 months, and usually around mid-April to early May we’ll harvest our crop. We often have guests participate in the harvest, and in May ’17 we’ll be holding our first ever turmeric harvest festival. Stay tuned for more announcements.
At our gift shop you can purchase our Demeter-certified biodynamic turmeric powder, which you use in the salad dressing recipe. Many people also make what is called Golden Paste, which is a combination of turmeric, black pepper, and coconut oil. Recipes abound for making Golden Paste – pick one that’s easy for you and use it for cooking and making smoothies. The key is to incorporate turmeric into your daily life. Billions of people for thousands for years have been nourished by the health-promoting benefits of this herb, and we hope that turmeric finds its way into your spice cabinet.
