Move over matcha, turmeric is still going strong as the celebrity superfood of choice. It’s turmeric-everything, in fact, from raw ground powder to use in cooking, to turmeric teas and lattes, turmeric-laced breakfast cereal and even turmeric face packs and body scrubs.
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Ella Woodward, 25, of Deliciously Ella fame, plus the Hemsley sisters, Jasmine, 37, and Melissa, 31, have been spotted buying the stuff in bulk from London food brand Wunder Workshop, which is based in London’s Notting Hill. The wellness experts and chefs are so taken with the product range that they have started serving it in their own cafes and delis.
Turmeric lattes are made from a mixture of cold-pressed turmeric juice and non-dairy nut milk
And it’s not just the ladies. In recent months England rugby captain Tom Mitchell, 27, has also logged on to fill his cupboards with products from the same shop. Other celebrity fans of turmeric include Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley, 25, and actors Thandie Newton, 44, and Sir Michael Caine, 83, who said he learned about the benefits of taking turmeric from his model wife Shakira, who is Indian-Guyanese. Meanwhile Gwyneth Paltrow, 44, has also been drinking the golden brew for years and Victoria Beckham, 42, mixes hers with aloe vera.
Turmeric, a distinctly orange spice, is said to reduce muscle, skin and joint inflammation and even help with anti-ageing and the prevention of memory loss. Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, is one of the most powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents of any food stuff on the planet and has been used for over 4000 years in Indian cuisine and Ayurvedic medicine.
Daisy Ridley showed off her homemade turmeric face mask on social media
Hollywood actress and model Priyanka Chopra, 34, also recently sang the praises of the spice. When asked recently how she got her skin glowing for the Oscars 2017 red carpet, the Indian beauty revealed she mixes turmeric with sandalwood, Greek yoghurt and flour made from chickpeas to create a soothing, homemade body scrub.
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Unlike the caffeinated lattes most of us are used to, a turmeric latte is usually made from a mixture of cold-pressed turmeric juice and non-dairy nut milk such as almond or coconut. The drink can be served cold or warm and is sometimes mixed with coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey or cocoa for added sweetness.
Its anti-inflammatory properties mean it can help to reduce redness such as prickly heat or rosacea, while its anti-bacterial qualities mean it is a great bet for those suffering with mild acne, psoriasis or eczema too. The spice is also said to protect against the effects of Alzheimer's disease, cleanse the liver and – in some studies - has been touted as an effective anti-depressant.