asafetida
A pungent resin obtained from the roots of Ferula plants, used as a spice and in traditional medicine. The word is usually written in kana.
In Indian cuisine, asafetida is sometimes used in small amounts.
Asafetida is characterized by its distinctive strong smell.
Hiragana spelling is the most common written form.
The Japanese word あぎ derives from the Chinese name 阿魏 (āwèi), which itself is a transcription of a foreign word, possibly from Persian or Sanskrit. The exact origin is uncertain.