Indian turmeric fingers are traded mostly by origin name rather than by botanical variety. The best-known are Erode and Salem from Tamil Nadu, Nizamabad from Telangana, Rajapuri and Sangli from Maharashtra, and Alleppey from Kerala.
Each name stands for a typical size, colour and curcumin level, but the names are trade descriptions. What you get depends on the actual lot.
The main trade types
- Erode: from the Erode market in Tamil Nadu, one of the largest turmeric trading centres. Medium-sized fingers with good yellow colour. Widely used for powder and export.
- Salem: also from Tamil Nadu. Often described as bright, well-formed fingers with good colour, and sold at a premium in some markets.
- Nizamabad: from Telangana, a major production and market area. Large volumes, generally sold for grinding.
- Rajapuri and Sangli: from Maharashtra. Rajapuri is known for broad, bold fingers and a bright yellow colour, which suits retail and some domestic uses.
- Alleppey Finger: associated with Kerala. Known in the trade for deep orange-yellow colour and higher curcumin, and long valued in the US market for colour.
- Lakadong: from Meghalaya in the north-east. Known for high curcumin, grown in small volumes, and often sold to the health and supplement trade.
Fingers, bulbs and splits
Turmeric rhizomes are sold in parts. Fingers are the side shoots and make up most export trade. Bulbs are the central mother rhizome, rounder and often cheaper. Splits are pieces cut or broken during processing.
Most contracts call for fingers, with a limit on bulbs and broken pieces. If you grind, you may accept a mix. If you sell whole, you will want sound fingers of an even size.
How to choose
Choose by end use, then confirm with tests on the lot. Our guide to what curcumin content to ask for explains how to set the number, and polished versus unpolished turmeric covers the finish.
- For colour-led powders and food colouring: ask for a higher curcumin lot, which may point you to Alleppey-type or a selected Erode or Salem lot.
- For general grinding at volume: Erode or Nizamabad are common choices.
- For whole retail packs: bold, well-polished fingers such as Rajapuri or selected Salem.
- For extraction or supplements: high-curcumin origins, tested before purchase.
What to check whatever the name
- Curcumin by an agreed method, tested on the lot.
- Moisture, extraneous matter and the share of bulbs and broken pieces.
- Lead and chromium, because coating fingers with colour is a known adulteration route.
- Pesticide residues against your market's limits.
- Insect damage and mould, especially in older stock.
How Creston & Co handles this
We source turmeric from processors who buy at the main origin markets, and we have each lot tested for curcumin, lead and residues at an NABL-accredited lab before you commit. To match an origin to your product, ask for a free sourcing review.