Turmeric is a rhizome, or an underground stock of the plant from which roots grow, that is typically dried and ground as a spice. It is sometimes grown as an intercrop alongside corn, sugarcane, and other crops. Many farmers grow turmeric after they have been growing sugarcane for a few years. They pull out the sugarcane and plant turmeric because it helps provide nutrients for the soil. Farmers in India often say that growing turmeric is like a natural pesticide and fungicide within the soil – growing turmeric has proved healthy for the soil itself – and that sugarcane planted after turmeric has a significantly higher yield. The essential oil is produced through steam distillation. After farming and harvesting, the turmeric roots are sorted into various grades. Our Turmeric essential oil is a blend that comes from distilling both dried and fresh turmeric.