Erode Manjal

Erode Manjal is the turmeric grown in and around Erode district, long known as the 'Turmeric City' of Tamil Nadu and one of the country's largest turmeric trading centres. The turmeric is valued for its bright golden-yellow colour, firm bulbous rhizomes and high curcumin content, qualities shaped by the district's soil, climate and irrigation from the Cauvery system. After harvest the rhizomes are boiled, dried in the sun and polished before being sold, and Erode's regulated market draws turmeric traders from across India. Used as a spice, a colouring agent, a cosmetic and a medicinal and ceremonial substance, turmeric holds deep importance in Tamil kitchens and rituals. The crop and its trade form a major part of the district's agricultural economy, supporting large numbers of farmers and market workers.