How to grow and make HALDI POWDER AT HOME

Haldi is healthy. 

Turmeric is as healthy as challenging it is to find it in pure form that provides the maximum healthy benefits. So, the best thing to do is grow your own and make turmeric powder (pure organic haldi powder) at home from scratch. The best part is you don’t need a lot of space to grow haldi and even a medium sized pot ifs sufficient to grow your own turmeric at home.

How to grow Haldi at home?

• Start by getting some turmeric rhizomes (roots), easily available at your local seed shops.
• Choose a spot in the garden that gets decent but not too much sunlight. If you are growing haldi in a container, choose pots that let the roots breathe, like terracotta or cement.
• Avoid plastic or fibre pots. Avoid painting the pots from outside.
• Plant the rhizomes (some people may call them bulbs) at a distance of about 6″-9″ each.
• Water once daily making sure the soil drains well and there is no water standing. Too much water in the soil will cause the rhizomes to rot and they will vanish inside the soil instead of growing.
• Check for leaves sprouting and water daily. Do not do anything else.
• There is no need to add fertilizer, just make sure the soil is rich in compost at the time of sowing.
• Let the leaves grow at their own pace for a few months. They will grow tall and eventually start to yellow. Do not panic, it is their natural life-cycle.
• Reduce watering when leaves start dying (turning brown). Once the leaves are almost gone, stop watering and wait few days.
• Dig out the rhizomes that must have multiplied by now.
• Let them dry for a day or two.

How to make pure haldi powder at home?

There are 2 ways to make haldi powder – by boiling fresh haldi or by directly drying it. Boiled haldi powder is considered to be better and have a deeper color.

We tried both ways to find out the difference.

GRINDING TURMERIC POWDER BY BOILING ROOTS

• Wash harvested haldi and keep aside.
• Heat water in a pan till it starts boiling.
• Switch off gas and soak the haldi rhizomes. Let them stay in hot water for 10 minutes.
• Remove and let them cool & dry for a day.
• Peel the skin and slice thinly. Thin slices dry quickly and do not get fungus.
• Keep under the sun(covered) for 1-2 days till the haldi slices are crisp and shrivel a bit.
• Check by breaking it with your hand. If it feels like chips, it’s completely dry and ready to grind.

GRINDING FRESH TURMERIC POWDER BY DIRECTLY DRYING ROOTS

• Peel the haldi rhizomes and wash lightly once.
• Slice as thinly as possible or grate if wish to.
• Dry under the sun for 1-2 days till completely dry.

Just use the masala grinder at home to make a fine powder. Let the haldi dust collect on the top (inside the grinder cover) and keep collecting it in a jar. Keep blending till a negligible amount is left.

Your finely ground fresh and pure haldi powder is ready! Use the leftover grainy powder in face scrubs or turmeric tea.

BOILED OR DIRECTLY DRIED HALDI POWDER?

Boiled haldi powder is darker in color and looks more orange. Directly dried haldi is lighter and more yellow in color. Both offer immense health benefits and pure haldi powder by itself is a wonder ingredient. Choose the method that suits you the most.

HOW TO MAKE TURMERIC WATER DRINK?

• To make haldi tea, boil some water and switch off gas.
• Add a pinch of haldi powder and let it infuse.
• You can also boil it in milk to consume in winters.

HAPPY GARDENING 🙂

JOIN OUR GARDENING COMMUNITY ON FB FOR MORE TIPS AND TRICKS!