Black Turmeric (Kali Haldi) — Chhattisgarh's Rare Medicinal Rhizome

Black turmeric (Curcuma caesia) is a rare medicinal rhizome with deep blue-black flesh and a camphor-like aroma, found in the forest floors of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Unlike common yellow turmeric, it is used almost entirely in traditional medicine — treating liver disorders, epilepsy, and rheumatic pain in Ayurveda. Tribal healers in Bastar and Raipur hold generations of knowledge on its preparation. It is categorised as a threatened species due to overharvesting.