Some studies on curing and drying characteristics of turmeric rhizomes

Abstract

Turmeric is an important commercial spice crop grown in India and it is named as "Indian saffron". Turmeric is grown in tropical countries like India,

Effects of Variety and Curing and Drying Methods on Quality Attributes of Turmeric (Curcuma domestica) Powder

“…It is an essential operation before drying to avoid the raw odor, destroy the vitality of fresh rhizomes, yield uniformly colored product, and reduce the drying time [6]. The method of curing turmeric varies from place to place [7]. There are conventional and improved methods of curing turmeric; however, during the conventional method of boiling turmeric, contents might be leached along with water, which in turn lowers curcumin, oleoresin and essential oil contents [8].…”

“…There are several methods of drying that use different forms of heating; however, solar energy is important for drying agricultural products. Since other conventional sources of energy are in the declining trend in their availability, several researchers reported that solar energy is beneficial for drying agricultural products, particularly in the tropics where good sunshine is available during most of the year and (a) is pollution-free, (b) available at minimal cost, and (c) dries faster [7].…”