Asafoetida is actually a dried latex (gum oleoresin) exuded from the rhizome or tap root of several species of Ferula, a perennial herb that grows 1 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft.) tall. Asafoetida gets its name from the Latin word foetid, which means stinking. The species is native to the deserts of Iran and mountains of Afghanistan and is mainly cultivated in nearby India. As its name suggests, asafoetida has a fetid smell, but in cooked dishes, it delivers a smooth flavor reminiscent of leeks. All parts of the plant have the distinctive fetid smell. It is also known as asant, food of the gods, jowani badian, stinking gum, hing, hengu, ingu, kayam, and ting. The plant is in the same genus as the now extinct Silphium.
| Name | Asafoetida |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ferula assafoetida |
| Native | Central Asia, eastern Iran to Afghanistan |
| Common/English Name | Asant, food of the gods, jowani badian, stinking gum, hing, hengu, ingu, kayam, ting, Ferula foetida, Assyfetida, Devil’s Dung, Ferula Food of the Gods, Incense of the Devil, Ferulr perisque, Stinkender Asant, Kama-i-anguza and Perunkaya |
| Name in Other Languages | Nepal: Hing Pakistan: Anjadana England: Asafetida Russia: Asafetida Finland: Asafetida Germany: Asafetida China: A-wei Guyana: Asafetida Iceland: Asafetida Lithuania: Asafetida France: Asafetida Netherlands: Asafetida Poland: Asafetida India: Hing Spain: Asafetida Croatia: Asafetida United States: Asafetida Estonia: Asafootida Germany: Asafotida Italy: Assafetida Latvia: Velna suds United States: Devil’s dung Iceland: Djoflatao Iran: Rechina fena Norway: Dyvelsdrekk Sweden: Dyvelstrack Bangladesh: Hing Mozambique: Mvuje Tanzania: Mvuje Zaire: Mvuje Greece: Aza Hungary: Ordoggyoker Sri Lanka: Perunkayan Turkey: Setan bokosu Myanmar: Sheingho Tibet: Shing-kun Afghanistan: Kama I anguza |
| Plant Growth Habit | Herbaceous, monoecious, perennial plant |
| Growing Climate | Prefers sunny location. It needs full sunlight, and does not grow in the shade. |
| Soil | Grows well in well-drained soil of any consistency — sandy, loamy or clay. This herbaceous perennial tolerates acidic, neutral and basic soil pH levels. |
| Plant Size | 2 m (6.6 ft.) high |
| Root | Thick, massive, and pulpy. |
| Flower | Pale greenish yellow produced in large compound umbels |
| Fruit Shape & Size | Oval, flat, thin and have a milky juice. |
| Fruit Color | Greyish-white when fresh but dries to a dark amber color |
| Fruit Flavor | Pungent smell |
| Fruit Taste | Bitter |
| Varieties/Types |
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| Major Nutrition | Iron, Fe 39 mg (487.50%) Calcium, Ca 690 mg (69.00%) Carbohydrate 68 g (52.31%) Total dietary Fiber 4 g (10.53%) Protein 4 g (8.00%) Phosphorus, P 50 mg (7.14%) Total Fat (lipid) 1 g (2.86%) |
| Health Benefits |
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| Calories in (100 gm) | 297 K cal |