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Turmeric

Spice & roots· spice

Turmeric

What it is

Turmeric is the rhizome of Curcuma longa, a plant in the ginger family native to South Asia.

What it tastes like

On the nose: camphor, floral; the house adds earthy, gingery ✳. Among its measured molecules: ar-turmerone, beta-turmerone, curcuphenol, ent-zingiberene, alpha-Atlantone.

What goes with it

203 more go with it. See them all in the full library →

Salt and acid

Salt

0 mgAsian pear10 mgCinnamon100 mgFennel seed1,000 mgOlive10,000 mgFish sauce

Sodium 27 mg per 100 g — USDA FoodData Central 172231.

Acid

Acid not measured yet.

Unusual pairings

Pairs the library can cite that almost nobody makes.

15 of 238 compounds on file carry a paper the library can cite.

  • 1,8-cineolearomaterpenoidreads as camphor-like odor (PubChem)Measured in 38 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 0.55% — an order of magnitude below the north-Alabama oils, which is the clearest disagreement between the two studies and the reason this node's monoterpene layer is quoted as a range across real turmerics — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row '1,8-Cineole' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal))
  • α-phellandrenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 29 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 0.37% of the authenticated fresh-rhizome oil — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'α-Phellandrene' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal))
  • p-cymenearomaterpenoidreads as mild pleasant odor (PubChem)Measured in 42 of 338 ingredients.cite
    0.5% to 3.0% of the rhizome oil, and higher in the lateral rhizome than in the mother rhizome of the same plant in all five varieties — Setzer et al. 2021, Foods (Table 2, row 'p-Cymene' at RIcalc 1024, across all ten sample columns)
  • terpinolenearomaterpenoidreads as terpene taste (PubChem)Measured in 38 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 7.74% of the authenticated fresh-rhizome oil, fourth of the top-25 constituents — higher than in any of the ten north-Alabama oils, the one monoterpene that runs the other way between the two studies — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'Terpinolene' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal))
  • alpha-terpineolaromaalcoholreads as floral, lilac (PubChem)Measured in 54 of 338 ingredients.cite
    0.2% to 0.7% of the rhizome oil, and at least as high in the mother rhizome as in the lateral in all five varieties, strictly higher in four of them — Setzer et al. 2021, Foods (Table 2, row 'α-Terpineol' at RIcalc 1195, across all ten sample columns)
  • curcumenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 5 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 1.49% of the fresh-rhizome oil and 3.41% of the ground-rhizome oil — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'ar-Curcumene' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil); Table 3, the same row (authenticated ground rhizome oil))
  • ar-turmeronearomaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 19.63% of the fresh-rhizome oil and 28.98% of the ground-rhizome oil, where it is the single largest constituent — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'ar-Turmerone' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal); Table 3, the same row (authenticated ground rhizome oil, India))
  • beta-turmeronearomaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 13.45% of the fresh-rhizome oil and 15.50% of the ground-rhizome oil — third in both authenticated sets — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'β-Turmerone' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil); Table 3, the same row (authenticated ground rhizome oil))
  • curcuphenolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 0.35% of the authenticated fresh-rhizome oil — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'Curcuphenol' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal))
  • β-bisabolenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 10 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 0.72% of the authenticated fresh-rhizome oil — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'β-Bisabolene' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal))
  • ent-zingiberenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 4.85% of the fresh-rhizome oil and 4.68% of the ground-rhizome oil — between the two extremes the varietal study found — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'α-Zingiberene' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil); Table 3, the same row (authenticated ground rhizome oil))
  • alpha-AtlantonearomaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 1.63% of the authenticated fresh-rhizome oil — about four times the level any of the ten varietal oils reached — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'trans-α-Atlantone' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal))
  • beta-sesquiphellandrenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 4.72% of the fresh-rhizome oil and 4.03% of the ground-rhizome oil — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'β-Sesquiphellandrene' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil); Table 3, the same row (authenticated ground rhizome oil))
  • ZingiberenolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 0.34% of the authenticated fresh-rhizome oil — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2, row 'Zingiberenol' (authenticated fresh rhizome oil, Nepal))
  • α-turmeronearomaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
    median 28.46% of the authenticated fresh-rhizome oil and 23.07% of the authenticated ground-rhizome oil — first and second respectively in the two independent authenticated sets — Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology (Table 2 (Main constituents of authenticated fresh turmeric rhizome essential oil, sourced from Nepal; median values of the top 25 constituents by GC-MS), row 'α-Turmerone'; and Table 3, the same row for authenticated ground rhizome oil from India)

On file, no cited source yet ✳

These molecules are on record for it from the library's earlier sources. We are buying and requesting the papers; each one that lands moves its molecule up into the cited list.

  • selineneterpenoid
  • Dihydrodesmethoxycurcumine a
  • 1.Xi.,6.xi.,7.xi.-cadina-4,9-dieneterpenoid
  • (2E)-2-[(3Z,7Z)-4,8-dimethyl-10-oxocyclodeca-3,7-dien-1-ylidene]propanalterpenoid
  • 8-Hydroxy-ar-turmeroneterpenoid
  • (5S,6R,9S)-3-Isopropylidene-6-hydroxy-6-methyl-9-isopropenyl-1-oxaspiro[4.4]nonane-2-oneterpenoid
  • 5'-Methoxycurcumin
  • Epiprocurcumenolterpenoid
  • beta-farneseneterpenoid
  • (6R)-3-Methyl-6-[(2S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]cyclohex-2-en-1-oneterpenoid
  • (6E,10S)-6,10-dimethyl-3-propan-2-ylidenecyclodec-6-ene-1,4-dioneterpenoid
  • dihydrocurcuminphenol
  • (1E,4E,6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-onephenol
  • 1,7-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-1,3-heptadien-5-one
  • (+)-sabineneterpenoid
  • 1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4,6-heptatrien-3-one
  • 2-Hepten-4-one, 6-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-methyl-terpenoid
  • myristic acidacid
  • succinic acidacidreads as very acid taste (PubChem)
  • Turmeronol Aterpenoid
  • terpinen-4-olalcoholreads as pine (PubChem)
  • (4R,6S)-2-methyl-6-(4-methylphenyl)hept-2-en-4-olterpenoid
  • Congo red free acidacid
  • (1S,6E,10S)-6,10-dimethyl-3-propan-2-ylidene-11-oxabicyclo[8.1.0]undec-6-en-4-oneterpenoid
  • (-)-(R)-ar-turmeroneterpenoid
  • (6S)-2-Methyl-6-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-hepten-4-oneterpenoid
  • (+)-alpha-Turmeroneterpenoid
  • vanillinphenolreads as sweetish smell (PubChem)
  • (Z)-alpha-Atlantoneterpenoid
  • (1R,3R,5R)-1-Isopropyl-4-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-3-olterpenoid
  • tetrahydrodiferuloylmethanephenol
  • 4-hydroxybenzaldehydephenol
  • 2-decanoneketone
  • p-Cumaroylferuloylmethan
  • 1,5-Dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one
  • 1,5-Dihydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one
  • 5-Hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one
  • 4-hydroxybenzoic acidacid
  • palmitic acidacidreads as slight characteristic taste (PubChem)
  • stearic acidacidreads as taste suggesting tallow (PubChem)
  • (4S,5S)-(+)-Germacrone 4,5-epoxideterpenoid
  • dichlofluanidnitrogen compound
  • (6Z)-6,10-dimethyl-3-(propan-2-ylidene)cyclodec-6-ene-1,4-dioneterpenoid
  • bisacuroneterpenoid
  • dihydroferulic acidphenol
  • caryophylene oxideterpenoid
  • (S)-turmeroneterpenoid
  • turmeroneterpenoid
  • p-cymen-8-olterpenoid
  • (3S,3aS,8aR)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-8-methylidene-5-propan-2-ylidene-2,3a,4,8a-tetrahydro-1H-azulen-6-oneterpenoid
  • Zedoarondiolterpenoid
  • Isozedoarondiolterpenoid
  • Germacrone-13-alterpenoid
  • 3-Hydroxybisabola-1,10-dien-9-oneterpenoid
  • 2,3-Dihydroxybisabola-4,10-dieneterpenoid
  • 6-(5-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-4-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl)-2-methylhept-2-en-4-oneterpenoid
  • 5-(6-Methylhept-5-en-2-yl)cyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diolterpenoid
  • 6(1H)-Azulenone, 2,3,3a,7,8,8a-hexahydro-1,8a-dihydroxy-1,4-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethylidene)-, (1S,3aS,8aR)-terpenoid
  • desmethoxycurcumin
  • bisdemethoxycurcumin
  • beta-pineneterpenoidreads as terpene odor (PubChem)
  • 2-hydroxy-5-methylacetophenoneketone
  • (6E)-2,6-dimethyl-10-methylidenedodeca-2,6-dieneacid
  • Curcumenoneterpenoid
  • d-camphorterpenoid
  • chlorothalonilnitrogen compound
  • 1,9-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)nona-1,6,8-triene-3,5-dione
  • 2-(4,8-Dimethyl-10-oxocyclodeca-3,7-dien-1-ylidene)propanalterpenoid
  • (1S)-1,5-dihydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one
  • (2S,5S)-5-methyl-2-(4-methylphenyl)heptan-4-oneterpenoid
  • (1R,4S,5S)-2-methyl-5-[(2S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]cyclohex-2-ene-1,4-diolterpenoid
  • (E,7S)-7-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hept-1-ene-3,5-dione
  • d-carvoneterpenoid
  • 6-(4-Hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)-2-methylhept-2-EN-4-oneterpenoid
  • 4-[(2S)-6-methyl-4-oxohept-5-en-2-yl]benzaldehydeterpenoid
  • 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxybenzeneacrylic acid 2-oxo-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-butenyl ester
  • (6S)-6-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylhept-2-en-4-oneterpenoid
  • Curcumenolterpenoid
  • tricosanoic acidacid
  • β-caryophyllene oxideether
  • 1,3,8-p-Menthatrieneterpenoid
  • caryophyllaneterpenoid
  • α-thujeneterpenoid
  • furanodienoneterpenoid
  • sabineneterpenoid
  • Procurcumenolterpenoid
  • succinic acidacid
  • limoneneterpenoidreads as pleasant lemon-like (PubChem)
  • alpha-humuleneterpenoid
  • β-alanineacid
  • silanereads as characteristic odor (PubChem)
  • alpha-Humulenterpenoid
  • 4,10-Epizedoarondiolterpenoid
  • camphorterpenoidreads as pungent aromatic taste (PubChem)
  • ent-Isozedoaronediolterpenoid
  • 3-careneterpenoid
  • Bicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene, 4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene-, (1S,4E,9R)-terpenoid
  • turmeric
  • (Z)-γ-bisaboleneterpenoid
  • myrceneterpenoidreads as pleasant (PubChem)
  • 4-coumaric acidacid
  • coumarincoumarinreads as burning taste (PubChem)
  • 4-hydroxybenzoic acidphenol
  • Curcumenolterpenoid
  • 1-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione
  • beta-bisaboleneterpenoid
  • (-)-cis-sabinolterpenoid
  • (-)-alpha-curcumeneterpenoid
  • (-)-car-3-eneterpenoid
  • (+)-menthofuranterpenoid
  • 1,4,6-Heptatrien-3-one, 5-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-
  • (+)-α-phellandreneterpenoid
  • ferulic acidacid
  • (2S,4R)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-olterpenoid
  • hexadec-9-enoic acidacid
  • Divanillalaceton
  • 1,4,6-Heptatrien-3-one, 5-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-
  • β-alanineacid
  • 3-isopropyl-6,10-dimethylcyclodec-6-ene-1,4-dioneterpenoid
  • delta-cadinolterpenoid
  • beta-Sesquiphellandreneterpenoid
  • 2-methyl-5-(6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl)phenolterpenoid
  • (-)-Zingibereneterpenoid
  • spathulenolterpenoid
  • coniferaldehydephenol
  • stigmasterolalcohol
  • caryophylleneterpenoid
  • β-farneseneterpenoid
  • (1E,4Z,6E)-5-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one
  • palmitelaidic acidacid
  • ar-tumerolterpenoid
  • bisdemethoxycurcuminphenol
  • curzereneterpenoid
  • germacrene Dterpenoid
  • (1E,4Z,6E)-5-hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one
  • (1E,4Z,6E)-1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-7-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4,6-heptatriene-3-one
  • vanillylidene acetoneacid
  • 1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hept-1-ene-3,5-dione
  • (4Z,6E)-5-Hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-heptadie n-3-one
  • desmethoxycurcuminphenol
  • monodemethylcurcumin
  • zerumboneterpenoid
  • 2-(4-Ethenyl-4-methyl-3-prop-1-en-2-ylcyclohexyl)propan-2-olterpenoid
  • ar-(+/-)-turmeroneterpenoid
  • 2,6,9,9-tetramethylcycloundeca-2,6,10-trien-1-oneterpenoid
  • 1-Ethyl-4-isobutylbenzene
  • b-Sitostenoneterpenoid
  • 5-Hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one
  • citronellyl valerateester
  • gamma-bisaboleneterpenoid
  • (5E,9E)-3,6,10-trimethyl-4,7,8,11-tetrahydrocyclodeca[b]furanterpenoid
  • Calebin Aacid
  • p-coumaric acidacid
  • CID 641645
  • beta-curcumeneterpenoid
  • 2-Methyl-6-(4-methylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)heptan-3-oneterpenoid
  • germacroneterpenoid
  • nerolalcoholreads as sweet rose (PubChem)
  • bornyl acetateterpenoid
  • (1E,4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one
  • (5E,9E)-furanodienoneterpenoid
  • linaloolalcoholreads as spicy, citrus taste (PubChem)
  • campheneterpenoidreads as camphor-like (PubChem)
  • alpha-pineneterpenoidreads as odor of turpentine (PubChem)
  • 2-methyl-3H-furan-2-ol
  • (R)-beta-bisaboleneterpenoid
  • 1-Hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-6-heptene-3,5-dione
  • 1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione
  • beta-elemeneterpenoid
  • (-)-1-p-tolylethanol
  • (E/Z)-ferulic acidacid
  • 1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one
  • (6S)-6-[(1R,4R,5S)-5-hydroxy-4-[4-[(1E,3Z,6E)-3-hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-oxohepta-1,3,6-trienyl]-2-methoxyphenoxy]-4-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-2-methylhept-2-en-4-one
  • Terpecurcumin C
  • Terpecurcumin D
  • Didemethoxybisabolocurcumin Ether
  • Terpecurcumin A
  • Demethoxybisabolocurcumin Ether
  • (6S)-6-[(1R,2R)-2-[2-hydroxy-5-[(1E,3Z,6E)-3-hydroxy-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-oxohepta-1,3,6-trienyl]-3-methoxyphenyl]-4-methylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl]-2-methylhept-2-en-4-one
  • (1E,4Z,6E)-5-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-[4-[(1R,4R,6S)-6-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-[(2S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]cyclohex-2-en-1-yl]oxy-3-methoxyphenyl]hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one
  • Terpecurcumin B
  • (1E,4Z,6E)-5-hydroxy-7-[4-hydroxy-3-[(1R,4S,6R)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-6-[(2S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl]cyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-5-methoxyphenyl]-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one
  • Bisabolocurcumin Ether
  • CID 71694446terpenoid
  • [4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxobut-3-enyl] 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate
  • 1,5-Dihydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one
  • carvoneterpenoid
  • γ‑terpineneterpenoid
  • 2-[2-(5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl)ethylidene]butanedialterpenoid
  • 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-yl acetateterpenoid
  • Citronellalterpenoidreads as intense lemon-citronella-rose odor (PubChem)
  • [4-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxobut-3-enyl] 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate
  • tricycleneterpenoid
  • vanillic acidacid
  • [4-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxobut-3-enyl] 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate
  • 1-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-oneacid
  • 5-Hydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one
  • 1,7-bis(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-one
  • alpha-bergamoteneterpenoid
  • 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-olterpenoid
  • (1E,6E)-1-(4-hydroxy-5-methoxycyclohexa-1,3-dien-1-yl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione
  • citralterpenoid
  • inositolsugar
  • Cyclohexene, 4-ethenyl-4-methyl-3-(1-methylethenyl)-1-(1-methylethyl)-, (3R-trans)-terpenoid
  • 1,6-Cyclodecadiene, 1-methyl-5-methylene-8-(1-methylethyl)-terpenoid
  • 3-Hydroxy-1,7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-heptene-1,5-dione
  • (S)-3-Methyl-6-((S)-6-methyl-4-oxohept-5-en-2-yl)cyclohex-2-enoneterpenoid
  • (S,1Z,6Z)-8-Isopropyl-1-methyl-5-methylenecyclodeca-1,6-dieneterpenoid
  • 2-Cyclohexen-1-one, 6-[(1R)-1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenyl]-3-methyl-, (6R)-terpenoid
  • Cubebeneterpenoid
  • (1R,2S,5R,8S)-2,6-Dimethyl-9-propan-2-ylidene-11-oxatricyclo[6.2.1.01,5]undec-6-en-8-olterpenoid
  • zingibereneterpenoid
  • (R)-5-(1,5-Dimethyl-4-hexenyl)-o-cresolterpenoid
  • (+)-cis-sabinolterpenoid
  • elixeneterpenoid
  • curcuminphenol
  • (3R,3aR,8aS)-3-hydroxy-3,8-dimethyl-5-propan-2-ylidene-2,3a,4,8a-tetrahydro-1H-azulen-6-oneterpenoid
  • [6]-Dehydrogingerdioneacid
  • 8(20),12-Labdadiene-15,16-dialterpenoid
  • (E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hept-1-ene-3,5-dione
  • (+)-beta-turmeroneterpenoid
  • 4-Hydroxy-trans-cinnamic acid (E)-2-oxo-4-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-butenyl ester
  • 3-[(1E)-2-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]ethenyl]furanterpenoid

Sources

  • Saavedra et al. 2026, Pharmaceutical Biology
  • Setzer et al. 2021, Foods
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