ABOUT HING

The mouth-watering aroma of Hingtadkathat originates from the Indian kitchen is invariably mesmerizing and appetizing. Those who’ve experienced it can swear by the taste of their food. But did you know that hing, or asafoetida as it is otherwise known, is a plant-product produced in the root of Ferula Asafoetida plant genus that is mostly grown in Afghanistan and Iran.

The King Spice ‘Hing’ that is native to Afghanistan, though its cultivation has now spread to many of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries like Iran, Uzbekistan.

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The Origin of Hing

Back in 1945, the late Basant Lal Gambhir laid the cornerstone of our enterprise, starting as a modest broker in the Hing business. His vision and dedication set the stage for what was to come. Today, nearly a century later, his legacy lives on.

In 2004, a visionary leader Mr. Mohit Gambhir stepped into the family business. Under his astute guidance, BLG International has risen to prominence as India’s foremost importer and manufacturer of Hing and Gum.

Our ethos is rooted in the relentless pursuit of unparalleled quality. We source pure Asafoetida directly from the Hindu Kush region, ensuring authenticity and flavour that distinctly sets us apart.

In the middle Ages, a small piece of this resin gum was worn around the neck to ward off diseases such as colds and fevers. But in Persia, asafoetida was used as a condiment and called the “food of the gods” and is held in highly esteemed that it is used in almost all their dishes. French gastronomers are said to use asafoetida on hot plates for preparation of their cuisines. Worcestershire sauce gets its distinctive flavour by the addition of this gum. Seasoning with other condiments, Hing adds palatial character to daal, curries, stews, gravies, pickles, papad etc. It is popular household remedies and is used as a flavoring agent and forms a constituent of many spice mixtures. Considering the ancient times, asafoetida is still regarded as a valuable medicinal in Europe, Near and far East. In central Africa, asafoetida is used in magic and mythology as the smell of it wards away all negative energy, evil spirits and demons.

Ferula asafoetida is an herbaceous, monoecious, perennial plant of the UMBELLIFERAE family. Asafoetida is native to central Asia, eastern Iran to Afghanistan, and today it is grown chiefly in Iran and Afghanistan, from where it is exported to the rest of the world. It is not native to India, but has been used in Indian medicine and cookery for ages.

Traditional Medicinal Uses and its Benefits

Asafoetida is an effective remedy for stomach aches. It is one of the best remedies available for flatulence and is an essential ingredient in making of most of the digestive powders. In case of flatulence and distension of the stomach, asafoetida should be dissolved in hot water and a pad of cloth steeped in it may be used for fomenting the abdomen.

Traditionally it is used for the treatment of various diseases, such as asthma, epilepsy, stomach-ache, flatulence, intestinal parasites, weak digestion and influenza. Recent studies including pharmacological and biological have also shown that asafoetida possess several activities, such as antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, cancer chemo-preventive, anti-diabetic, antispasmodic, hypotensive and molluscicidal.

Hing is pungent and bitter in taste and light, sharp, sycophantic and hot in effect. Ayurvedic texts have categorized hing as deepniya and sanjna-sthapaka (an appetiser and a restorer of consciousness). The herb is also used as an antidote of opium. Given in the same quantity as opium ingested by the patient, it will counteract the effect of the drug.

The herb is considered useful in the treatment of several problems concerning women such as sterility, unwanted abortion, pre-mature labor, unusually painful, difficult and excessive menstruation and leucorrhoea. Asafoetida is also useful for women after childbirth. Owing to its antiflatulent and digestive properties, the herb can be taken with beneficial results during the post-delivery period. It also has phenolic acid, ferulic acid, and tannins which regulate the blood sugar level. Other benefits of Hing include remedy for intestinal gas, bloating and cramps during the menstrual cycle, and mucous discharge.

Asafoetida has been held in great esteem among indigenous medicines from the earliest times in India. It is reputed as a drug that helps expels wind from the stomach and counteracts any spasmodic disorders. It is also a nervine (pertaining to nerve) stimulant, digestive agent and a sedative.

Asafoetida has also been used as a sedative. It also thins the blood and lowers blood pressure. It is widely used in India in food and as a medicine in Indian systems of medicine like ayurveda. Asafoetida has been also used in Unani system from the earliest times.

Annual Import of Hing

India is the largest importer of Asafoetida in the world. And because it’s a sought-after commodity in India, 100 grams of asafoetida can cost anywhere between Rs.300 to Rs.1,000 depending on the quality and origin of the product. India imports about 1,540 tons of raw asafoetida every year from Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan, for about Rs.942 crores and that is a huge amount to pay for just one spice.

Asafoetida is not officially considered as a “spice”. For some reason, it does not even figure on the Indian Spice Board’s list of spices imported into India. The Ministry of Commerce lists it under the category “resins and gums” (ExIm HS code 1301-9013).

The global seasoning and spices market size was estimated at USD 13.77 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 15.44 billion in 2020.

Analysts forecast the Global Asafoetida Market to grow at a CAGR of 5.82% during the period 2019-2023.