Common Asafoetida, For Cooking, Medicine, Certification : FSSAI

Asafoetida is the dried latex (gum oleoresin) exuded from the living underground rhizome or tap root of several species of Ferula, which is a perennial herb about 3 meters in height. The species are distributed from the Mediterranean region to Central Asia. The major supply of Asafoetida to India is from Afghanistan and Iran. Azure International offers the best quality of Asafoetida from Afghanistan at very competitive prices.
Asafoetida is present as whitish gummy resinous emulsion in the schizogenous ducts of the cortex of stem, rhizome and root. Drug is usually collected from the rhizome and root. Collection is carried out in the end of March, before flowering. Soil of the root removed and crown is cut off. Oleo-gum-resin exudes from the cut surface, hardens and is collected. The root is sliced successfully lower at the end of every week and drug collected as above till no more exudation takes place. The drug is dried, packed and exported.
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. The white or pale variety is water soluble, whereas the dark or black variety is oil soluble. Since pure asafoetida is not preferred due to its strong flavour, it is mixed with starch and gum and sold as compounded asafoetida mostly in bricket form.
Asafoetida is extensively used for flavoring curries, sauces, and pickles.
It has rich medicinal properties and is widely used as:

• As a carminative
• As an expectorant
• As an antispasmodic
• As a laxative