ground turmeric
Turmeric has a woody, earthy, full aroma with a hint of ginger. Turmeric combines and harmonizes the different spices in a mixture and gives the dish a beautiful yellow color. Turmeric is often used as a single spice in Indian and North African cuisine and is also used as a substitute for saffron because of its intense yellowing effect.
Effect on doshas:
Vata, Pitta, Kapha: lowering
Rasa (taste): spicy/katu, bitter/tikta
Guna (quality): dry/ruksha, light/laghu
Vipaka (taste after digestion): spicy/katu