Turmeric is found everywhere and grows wild in the forests of Malaysia. It has become the key ingredient for many Malay dishes, not only in curry, but also in masak lemak, rendang, and many more.
In non-South Asian recipes, turmeric is sometimes used as an agent to impart a rich, custard-like yellow color. It is used in canned
beverages and baked products,
dairy products,
ice cream,
yogurt, yellow
cakes, orange juice,
biscuits,
popcorn color, sweets, cake icings,
cereals, sauces,
gelatins, etc.[
citation needed] ...
...In combination with
annatto (E160b), turmeric has been used to color
cheeses,
yogurt, dry mixes,
salad dressings, winter
butter and
margarine. Turmeric is also used to give a yellow color to some prepared
mustards, canned chicken
broths and other foods (often as a much cheaper replacement for
saffron).