Turmeric powder is a yellow powder with a bitter, earthy, mustard-like aroma and a warm, slightly acrid, yet sweet taste. It's made from the dried rhizome of the Curcuma longa plant, also known as Indian saffron or jiang huang. Turmeric powder is a common spice and a key ingredient in curry powder, but it's also used as a yellow food dye in many Indian foods.

Turmeric powder contains curcumin, a chemical that gives it its yellow color and may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric is often used to treat conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis, hay fever, and itching. It's also promoted as a dietary supplement for a variety of other conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, and liver disease. However, there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.