Danny, I don't think there's a definition for either of them (Timbale or Turmeric). I prefer Turmeric, because it's got Curr(y), which seems more 'mainly' than 'bal(ti)'. I wish it'd been something like 'Herbs and Spices Crossword'!
I've checked & the info in "The Week" gives (7). It also shows that the clue originally came from an Independent puzzle by Serpent - that puzzle is here -
Further to my post @ 15:00, I'm unable to access the magazine again for the moment, but I'm fairly certain that the "Clue of the Week" answer is stand-alone & isn't entered in the grid - the instructions even say "...begins with a T".
It's been done to death now I know, but would like someone, anyone, to tell me if it's a stand alone clue, ie doesn't fit into the grid (or else we would have had more letters to work with surely). If it is a stand alone then there could be a chance that it is a setter's error.
The Week crossword is 15 x 15, set by Tim Moorey. Every week he chooses a "Clue of the week" which he has seen somewhere and which presumably has tickled his fancy. He provides the number of letters (printed wrongly in this case) and gives a hint by stating the first, or last, or whatever,letter