In Sri Lanka, turmeric is being exchanged for gold on the black market

Demand for the spice, believed to have immunity-boosting qualities, has skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic

This comes as the government last December cut off the imports of many spices to support local producers – a move it will not back down from

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Turmeric powder and turmeric on wooden background. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:58pm, 11 Nov 2020Updated: 7:17pm, 11 Nov 2020

Turmeric, a key spice in many South Asian cuisines, has been so ubiquitous in the region it is hard to imagine it would feature in a black market.

Valued for both its flavour and health benefits, the humble ingredient is commonly used in dishes from stews to soups to curries, and it’s also added to beverages like tea. Proponents believe turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities that help people to boost their immunity to diseases.

In Sri Lanka, health practitioners have been among those trumping up the supposed benefits of turmeric during the coronavirus pandemic, causing demand to skyrocket – and giving smugglers a lucrative new sales product at a time much of the supply has been cut off.

A man drinks a turmeric milk drink. The spice is believed to have immunity-boosting qualities. Photo: AFP

According to official figures, Sri Lankans consumed about 7,500 tonnes of turmeric in 2019, but the country cultivated some 2,000 tonnes, meaning it has largely been reliant on imports.

In December, about a month before Sri Lanka saw its first Covid-19 case, President Gotabaya Rajapaksha’s new government banned the import of a range of spices – including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and turmeric – in a bid to bolster domestic produce.