Asafoetida is the dried gum of several types of giant fennel. Asafoetida is available either in small pieces called “tears,” “lumps” which have been processed into larger, uniform pieces, and in powdered form. It has a strong bitter, musky, acrid, and frankly unpleasant odour. However when fried briefly in hot oil it lends a much more appealing onion-like flavour. It is used primarily in Indian cooking. It is primarily appreciated among the Brahmin and Jain sects whose beliefs forbid the use of garlic and onions.