Asafoetida

You can buy hing online at Velspices.com.au. We stock hing powder, compounded asafoetida, and pure hing resin, all available for delivery across Australia.

Hing is used as a flavour enhancer and digestive aid in South Asian cooking. It's added to hot oil or ghee at the start of a tadka (tempering) and transforms into a rich, savoury, umami-like flavour. It's essential in dal, sambar, vegetable curries, and Jain cooking where onion and garlic are avoided.

Hing is extremely potent — a tiny pinch (1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon for a dish serving 4-6 people) is all you need. Using too much hing results in an overpowering, bitter taste. Always bloom hing in hot oil for a few seconds before adding other ingredients.

Yes. Hing is the common Hindi name for asafoetida. It is also known as heeng (Hindi), perungayam (Tamil), kayam (Malayalam), and inguva (Telugu). Asafoetida is the English/botanical name. They are all the same ingredient.

Pure asafoetida is 100% asafoetida resin — extremely pungent and potent, used sparingly. Compounded asafoetida is a blend of asafoetida resin with flour (wheat or rice), diluting it slightly and making it easier to measure and use. Most Indian household recipes are written for compounded asafoetida.

Pure asafoetida resin is naturally gluten-free. However, compounded asafoetida is typically blended with wheat flour and is NOT gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease or gluten intolerance, look for hing specifically labelled as gluten-free or made with rice flour. Check product labels carefully.

Yes, hing has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries as a digestive aid. It's believed to reduce bloating, gas, and stomach cramps — which is why it's traditionally added to legume dishes (dal) that can cause digestive discomfort. Modern research supports some of these properties.

Hing retains its potency for 2-3 years when stored in an airtight container away from heat and light. Always keep the container tightly sealed as hing's aroma is penetrating and can affect other items nearby. If your hing has lost its strong smell, it has lost most of its potency and should be replaced.

Yes, Velspices delivers hing and all Indian spices across Australia. Orders over $50 ship free in Melbourne metro. Nationwide shipping rates apply for customers in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and beyond.

Hing can provide a similar savoury, pungent flavour note to garlic and onion in cooking. In Jain cuisine — where garlic, onion, and root vegetables are avoided — hing is the essential alternative that provides depth and savouriness. It won't replicate the exact flavour of garlic or onion, but it creates its own distinctive and delicious result.