Often called as Devil’s dung, Hing (Asafoetida) is dried latex which is extracted from the rhizome or tap root of Ferula plant. Originally, it is native to Iran and Afghanistan but nowadays it is also cultivated in Pakistan and India.
And though it has a pungent smell and is bitter in taste, this spice is widely used in cooking. A common reason - it lends an appealing flavour to the cooked dishes.
Explore more about this spice here:
• Varieties of Hing:
Well, you will find many types of Hing in the market. All of them vary in their quality, quantity, and price considerably. A few common types of Hing are Hingra, Hing, Irani Hing, Pathani Hing, Hadda, etc.
Irrespective of the variety, we strongly recommend you to purchase Hing from a renowned brand like Vasant Masala. We say this because the Hing available in your local market are highly prone to adulteration. To the contrary, a renowned brand like ours manufactures Hing in stringent hygienic conditions.
At Vasant Masala, we offer two types of Hing i.e.,Vasant Strong Asafoetida and Vasant Supreme Asafoetida.
• Uses of Hing:
The use of Hing is quite widespread. Not only is it used in dishes, but also is used in pickles and in cosmetics.
A brief of its uses has been given below:
- Hing is often used as a condiment in cooking. It is used frequently to cook lentils and numerous vegetable dishes, especially potato and cauliflower.
- In India, it is used in multiple cuisines in multiple ways.
- For example, in Punjabi cuisine, Hing is quickly heated in hot oil before adding other ingredients.
- It is also used in Kashmiri cuisine to balance the flavours of the food. Now you know why Kashmiri food is so delicious!
- Dried or powdered Hing is often added to raw salads.
- It also used to pickle a few dishes.
- Apart from being used in food, Hing is used in cosmetics for fragrance.
- Sometimes, it acts as an anti-repellent for insects and wild animals.
- Its use in Ayurveda is limitless.
A quick cooking tip here: If cooking in Ghee, the pungent flavour of asafoetida can be reduced.
• Medicinal properties:
As mentioned in Ayurveda, Hing has immense medicinal properties. This is the reason that it is used frequently in many cuisines across the globe.
A few common medicinal properties of Hing are given below:
- In Afghanistan and Iran, Hing is used as a traditional medicine in for menstruation, whooping cough. It is also used as an oral mouth wash. Hot water extract of the root of Hing has antispasmodic, diuretic, and analgesic properties.
- It can cure digestive disorders such as Intestinal gas, upset stomach, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), etc.
- Chemicals called Coumarins present in Hing can thin the blood which can lower the blood pressure.
- Some say that Hing can also treat breathing problems like Bronchitis and Asthma.
- Apart from this, Hing also has anti-bacterial properties.
To buy Hing online, visit our e-store. You can also buy our Hing from e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart.