Asafoetida

Asafoetida is a dried gum resin obtained from the taproot or rhizome of giant fennels, particularly Ferula assafoetida. The plants used to produce the spice are native to Iran and Afghanistan. The resinous juice starts to coagulate when exposed to air, and it has a strong and pungent odor that's similar to garlic.

When the product sets to a solid mass, its color varies from grey to black, but it's usually reddish to brown. This spice can be bought in several versions – tears, mass, paste, and powder. The tears are the purest, the mass is the most commonly available commercially, and the powdered version usually contains additions such as gum arabic, flour, and turmeric.

Nowadays, asafoetida is mostly used in India, where it's highly valued for its antiseptic qualities, and it's often added to legumes and vegetables. In Afghanistan, asafoetida is still used to prepare dried meat.