The star of my Creamy Turmeric Sauce is turmeric! Turmeric is a bright orange root that has peppery, warm and bitter flavours. It is best known for its extraordinary anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in Chinese and Indian medicine for centuries. The bright yellow/orange pigment of turmeric called curcumin has been shown to be comparable to potent drugs such as hydrocortisone and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs.