TasteAtlas is known for often ranking the world’s cuisines, food cities and regional ingredients, like the best cheeses in the world and more. But it has now stirred a heated debate among Indian foodies by listing asafoetida, or hing, among the World’s Stinkiest Foods!
TasteAtlas Lists Hing Among The World’s Stinkiest Foods
Hing, or asafoetida, is one of the most important spices in Indian food. It adds a deep, savoury flavour and is used in very small amounts. Not just for flavour, hing also aids digestion and helps prevent bloating after heavy meals. People who cook often know that raw hing smells quite strong and pungent, but its flavour turns out great after it is cooked.
But TasteAtlas, known for ranking cuisines, foods and ingredients, has now stirred a controversy among Indian foodies by listing asafoetida among the World’s Stinkiest Foods, alongside other food items from across the world. The caption under the TasteAtlas post read, “Nobody invented these foods to shock people on the internet. They exist because humans had to preserve whatever they caught or harvested, or starve.”
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Many Indian Foodies Disagree With The Ranking
The inclusion of hing in the list may not have gone down well with many. One user even wrote, “Asafoetida, seriously?” Another commented, “Asafoetida is not stinky. It gives a garlic-like pungent smell to foods that don’t have garlic.” A third user wrote, “Asafoetida is not stinky. It’s actually strong in flavour and not for the faint-hearted.”
The list has now sparked a discussion about how some regions may find an ingredient amazing, while others perceive it as unpleasant. Check out the complete list of World’s Stinkiest Foods by TasteAtlas:
- Surströmming (Extreme Level)
- Hongeo-hoe (Extreme Level)
- Kiviak (Extreme Level)
- Hákarl (Extreme Level)
- Vieux-Boulogne (Very High Level)
- Époisses (Very High Level)
- Stinky Tofu (Very High Level)
- Durian (Very High Level)
- Limburger (Medium High Level)
- Rakfisk (Medium High Level)
- Cheonggukjang (Medium High Level)
- Asafoetida (Medium High Level)
- Natto (Moderately Strong Level)
- Petai (Moderately Strong Level)
- Century Egg (Moderately Strong Level)
- Lutefisk (Moderately Strong Level)
Ashlesha Joshi, Fitness Dietician and Nutritionist at Tone30 Pilates, shared with The Indian Express that asafoetida has an intense aroma due to its sulphur-containing volatile compounds. Many of these compounds are highly concentrated and produce a sharp, pungent smell.
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Do you think hing smells bad? Tell us in the comments section below!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Andrii Pohranychnyi
FAQs
What is asafoetida?
Asafoetida, also known as hing, is a pungent spice commonly used in many Indian dishes.