Description

Hing or Asafoetida is an indispensable culinary ingredient common to every Indian kitchen. It is also known as Hingu in Hindi. Hing, often referred as ‘Food of the God’s’ or ‘Devil’s Dung’ goes by the botanical name Ferula foetida and Ferula assafoetida. It is one of the perennial herbs belonging to the Umbelliferae or Apiaceae family, that grows to the height of 1.5 to 2 mt tall.

A flowering plant with multiple schizogenous ducts in the cortex, Ferula assafoetida contains the resinous gum. Flowers of this plant are pale greenish yellow in colour, fruits are oval, flat, reddish brown filled with milky juice while roots are thick, huge and pulpy. They exude an extract similar to that of the stems.

Medicinal benefits of Hing:

1. Improve Digestion: Hing being rich in fiber aids in digestion. It provides relief from stomach problems like gastritis, bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence and promotes overall digestive health. Due to its anti-microbial properties, it prevents growth of flora in the intestines and reduces the chance of stomach infection.
2. Provides Relief from Respiratory Troubles
3. Boosts Fertility And Reproductive Health
4. Diabetes Management
5. Good for Cardiac Health
6. Relieves Menstrual Pain
7. Dismisses Headache
8. Cures Insect Bites and Stings

Used In Cooking:

• The Hing is used in cooking as it helps to solve indigestion problems. The food also does not get contaminated easily. The Hing is used in pickels for flavor and also as a preservative. In Indian Vegetarian cuisine Hing plays a critical role as it acts as umami like a category of taste in food ( besides sweet, sour, salt, and bitter). The taste of Hing Corresponds to the flavor of glutamates, especially monosodium glutamate enhancer.
• The Hing is used along with turmeric. It is used as a standard ingredient in curries, sambar and dal. It is also used in Kashmir cuisines like lamb/mutton dishes.
• Components of food (sweet, salty, sour and spicy) are harmonized by using Hing in food. The Hing is added while tempering the cooked food. It can also be used in salads by diluting it in water.

Hing Plant’s Care Instructions:

Soil:  The soil, which can be picked for the cultivations of the Hing farming should be a mix of sand, loamy or clay.

Location: Where the sun directly interacts with land is the perfect location for Hing plant.  As the Hing crop needs abundance of sunlight, it can’t be grown in shady region.

Water: Hing plants do not need much watering. Water the Hing plant after checking the soil on regular basis.

Fertilizer: Fertilize the Hing plant in the gap of 3-4 weeks. Hing plant need much fertilizer during its growing seasons. Liquid fertilizer will be better for Hing plant.