Ram Dev & Co. established in 1921 by Lala Ram Dev as a proficient manufacturer and supplier of quality products in the spices industry. It quickly got recognized as a quality supplier of hing (asafoetida) products at affordable prices and built its name in the industry thereafter.
After the reigns of the organization were handed to the next generation, the company evolved further and started providing a range of hing (asafoetida) products both in the wholesale and retail markets along with mastering the skills of hing (asafoetida) processing and production.
Now in the hands of the 3rd generation of entrepreneurs, the company with a rich history of close to 100 years has launched a brand “Mahadevi Hing” to keep up with the times.
Hing or in English name, asafoetida, is derived from the Latin for fetid. Those unaccustomed to it can respond negatively to its strong aroma, a mix of sulfur and onions. Europeans gave it the decidedly unflattering moniker “devil’s dung”! Derived from the resin of giant fennel plants that grow wild only in a few parts of the world, most noticeably in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran. The resin can be kept pure, but is mostly consumed in a blended form, usually ground to a powder form and mixed with some form of wheat. Available with us in both forms, it has domestic, industrial and medicinal use.
A pinch of it can influence a giant pot of lentils even liberally seasoned with other spices. When cooked, hing’s pungent odor mellows to a more mild flavor, smoothing out the aroma of all the other spices and making them all very pleasant.
Well known for causing bitterness on overuse, Hing blended by our recipe definitely takes that risk away. Believed to help with everything from kidney stones to bronchitis. In Afghanistan, it’s thought to cure whooping cough and ulcers. In Egypt, it’s considered a diuretic.
You can find hing in food outside of Indian cuisine, too. You may have encountered it in Worcestershire sauce. It’s also added to some Middle Eastern dishes.
Hing has anti-flatulent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antispasmodic properties. Some Benefits of hing are as follows*:
- Treats stomach problems
- Treats headaches
- Treats toothache
- Treats insect bites and stings
- Relieves respiratory conditions
- Treats ear pain
- Treats colic pain
- Analgesic properties
- Anti-oxidant properties
- Controls blood sugar
*Please consult your doctor before using hing specifically for any of the conditions above
