Asafoetida

Origin

The species are distributed from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia. In India it is grown in Kashmir and in some parts of Punjab. The major supply of asafoetida to India is from Afghanistan and Iran.

There are two main varieties of asafoetida ie. Hing Kabuli Sufaid (Milky white asafoetida) and Hing Lal (Red asafoetida). Asafoetida is acrid and bitter in taste and emits a strong disagreeable pungent odour due to the presence of sulphur compounds therein.

Uses

Asafoetida is extensively used for flavouring curries, sauces, and pickles. It is also used in medicines because of its antibiotic properties

Names in Indian languages

Hindi	: Hing
Bengali	: Hing
Gujarati	: Hing
Kannada	: Hinger
Kashmiri	: Yang, Sap
Malayalam	: Kayam
Marathi	: Hing
Oriya	: Hengu
Punjabi	: Hing
Sanskrit	: Badhika, Agudagandhu
Tamil	: Perungayam
Telugu	: Inguva, Ingumo
Urdu	: Hing