The richest, most fragrant turmeric we've cooked with, and the paperwork holds up. It costs about twice as much as everyday haldi, so save it for dishes where turmeric is the star.
Where to buy (200 g): Amazon ₹245 Flipkart ₹259 BigBasket ₹265
Lakadong is a small area in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, and its turmeric has a reputation: darker, stronger, and with more curcumin than the turmeric grown on the plains. Plenty of brands now print “Lakadong” on the pack. We wanted to see whether this one lives up to the name.
What it’s like to cook with
The colour is the first thing you notice: a deep saffron-orange rather than bright yellow. In a ghee tadka it blooms within seconds and smells earthy with a hint of citrus. In plain dal, a half teaspoon gave the colour we’d normally need a full spoon of supermarket haldi for.
In warm milk it dissolves well, with a gentle bitterness at the end. Two of our three tasters liked that; one added a little jaggery.
What the label says, and what we could check
- “Certified organic”Checked ✓
The certificate number on the pack is live on India's official organic register for this product.
- “Lakadong turmeric, 7–9% curcumin”Checked ✓
Our lab sample came back at 7.4%, inside the range on the pack.
- “Hand-picked by women farmers”Couldn't check
Plausible from what the brand shares about its farmer group, but we couldn't confirm it ourselves.
- “Immunity booster”Just marketing
A health claim with no real meaning on a spice pack. Ignore it.
The good and the not-so-good
What we liked
- Deep colour and aroma, so you use less
- Organic certificate verified
- Batch number traces back to a farmer group
- Resealable, foil-lined pouch
Not so great
- ₹122.50 per 100 g, about double the budget option
- Only one pack size on most apps
- Often out of stock on Blinkit
Is it worth it?
If turmeric leads the dish, like haldi doodh, a simple dal or turmeric pickle, yes. For a busy weekday sabzi with ten other spices, a good everyday turmeric like Sonmitti Organic Haldi does the job for a third of the price.
Other turmerics we like
- Cheaper: Sonmitti Organic Haldi, 8.1/10
- For warm milk: Pestle & Plough Stone-Ground, 8.3/10
- Or read all 14 turmerics we tested
Questions readers ask
Is every batch this strong?
We tested one batch. Lakadong turmeric varies with the season, so we'll test again when the next harvest reaches shops.
Can I use it for my kids' haldi doodh?
Yes, it's plain turmeric with nothing added. Start with half a teaspoon per cup; it's stronger than most.
How do I know it's real Lakadong?
Look for a batch number that traces back to the Jaintia Hills. Many loose sellers use the name without any link to the area.