Asafoetida (sometimes spelled Asafetida)...A Little History! Native to Southwestern Asia. A little known spice outside of India, asafoetida is the dried resin obtained from the rhizome of the giant fennel plant. Powdered asafoetida has a strong odor, reminiscent of picked garlic. In most Indian cooking it is used as a flavour enhancer and once cooked releases an onion-like flavour. It is also known as devil's dung, asant, food of the gods, jowani badian, stinking gum, hing, hengu, ingu, kayam, and...