Resins and gums
Asafoetida, mastic, frankincense and myrrh: tapped from trees and plants and dried to tears and lumps.
Resins are hardened plant sap, such as frankincense, myrrh, mastic and asafoetida. They are used as incense, as perfume and, in small amounts, as seasoning.
What they are
Resins form when a tree, or in the case of asafoetida a giant fennel root, is cut and the sap flows and hardens. Frankincense and myrrh come from trees in Arabia and the Horn of Africa. Mastic comes from a tree grown on the Greek island of Chios. Asafoetida, or hing, comes from Ferula plants of Iran and Afghanistan.
How they are used
Mastic flavours Greek sweets and ice cream, and asafoetida is fried in oil in Indian cooking to give a savoury, onion-like taste, which is why it appears in many dishes without onion or garlic. Frankincense and myrrh are mostly burned as incense or used in perfume.
Buying and keeping
Keep resins in closed jars as their strong scent can spread. Asafoetida is usually sold mixed with flour in a compound form, which is easier to use. Check that incense resins are sourced responsibly, as wild trees can be overtapped.
Resin on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
馃嚬馃嚟 Thailand and 4 moreBenzoin resin
A sweet balsamic tree resin used in incense, perfumes, and traditional medicine.Resin 路 Sweet and mellow
馃嚠馃嚦 IndiaKewra啶曕啶掂ぁ啶监ぞ
A fragrant essential oil distilled from the male flowers of the screwpine plant.Resin 路 Sweet and mellow 路 Floral and perfumed
馃嚠馃嚪 Iran and 2 moreAsafoetida
A pungent gum-resin from the Ferula plant, used as a garlic and onion substitute in South Asian cooking.Resin 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Earthy and deep
馃嚚馃嚧 Colombia and 2 moreTolu balsam
A South American tree resin prized for its warm scent and historical medicinal role.Resin 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
馃嚠馃嚪 Iran and 1 moreGalbanum
A bitter Persian gum resin used in ancient incense and modern green perfumesResin 路 Bitter 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚫馃嚮 El Salvador and 1 moreBalsam of Peru
A dark, sweet resin from a Central American tree, used for flavoring and fragrance.Resin 路 Sweet and mellow
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Tolu balsam: Ma拧a Sinreih in Valentina Vivod, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Balsam of Peru: Ma拧a Sinreih in Valentina Vivod, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Benzoin resin: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Asafoetida: Toyah, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Galbanum: Ma拧a Sinreih in Valentina Vivod, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kewra: Miansari66, Public domain, source