Turmeric is a deep, golden-orange spice known for adding color, flavor and nutrition to foods. A relative of ginger, turmeric comes from the rhizome (root) of a native Asian plant and has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. It is also used as a marinade for meat and in pickling fruits and vegetables. Beyond its culinary uses, haldi is celebrated for its medicinal properties. It is recognized as a potent antibiotic and germicidal agent. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, is believed to have anti-carcinogenic properties.