Turmeric is a bright yellow powdered spice. But did you know that to get that powder, turmeric root must first be dried and ground into a powder? Turmeric root comes from the turmeric plant, a member of the ginger family that grows wild in Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Hawaii. There, turmeric plants thrive in the humid, tropical climates to become the potent health-promoting spice that we all know and love.