Indian Costus powder (Qist Al Hindi): dried and ground root.
From Saussurea costus, a high-altitude plant of the Himalayas and Kashmir. A marked smell close to ginger. Mix with honey or plant oils, or use as a poultice. A Miel Impérial selection.
Indian costus powder 100g
€14.90
Tax included
Indian Costus powder (Qist Al Hindi): dried and ground root.
From Saussurea costus, a high-altitude plant of the Himalayas and Kashmir. A marked smell close to ginger. Mix with honey or plant oils, or use as a poultice. A Miel Impérial selection.
A Miel Impérial Selection
Indian Costus Powder (Qist Al Hindi)
Indian Costus, or Qist Al Hindi, comes from the root of Saussurea costus, a high-altitude Asian plant found in the Himalayas, Kashmir, India and Pakistan. Dried and then finely ground, this root yields a brown powder with a marked smell reminiscent of ginger. It is the most versatile form: it blends into honey or plant oils, and is used as a poultice or by inhalation, following uses passed down over centuries.
Miel Impérial Indian Costus: Qist Al Hindi in powder form
• Miel Impérial Indian Costus powder is the dried, ground root of Saussurea costus, a high-altitude plant known as Qist Al Hindi in Arabic.
• The powder is brown, bitter in taste and marked in smell, often compared to ginger.
• It is traditionally mixed with honey or a plant oil to soften its taste and make it easier to use.
• The powder form allows several uses: mixed into food, applied as a poultice, or used by inhalation according to traditional practices.
• This product is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or young children, and a prior skin test is advised.
Qist Al Hindi
the Arabic name for Indian Costus
Ground root
Himalayas, Kashmir, India
Ginger-like smell
a recognisable signature
Versatile
powder, blends, poultice
The plant: Saussurea costus
Indian Costus comes from Saussurea costus, a plant of the Asteraceae family growing at altitude in the Himalayas, Kashmir, India and Pakistan. It can reach several tens of centimetres in height. Its leaves are broad at the base and smaller towards the top, edged with fine teeth along their length. Its flower, gathered in a capitulum, ranges from deep purple to almost black. Its fruit, dry, remains little known to the general public.
It is the roots that matter: harvested and then dried, they first appear as small dark brown sticks whose look recalls the siwak. Ground into powder, they keep their characteristic warm, slightly pungent smell, which many liken to ginger.
A heritage shared between Asia and the Arab world
Costus has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine and in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Widely spread across the Middle East, it also holds a notable place in the corpus of prophetic medicine, which explains its enduring renown in the Arab-Muslim world.
Its wider adoption has also opened the way to cosmetics, where the root now appears in several formulations. It is this crossing of traditions, Asian, Arab and now Western, that makes Qist Al Hindi a plant apart.
How to use Indian Costus powder
Mixed with honey
The most common and simplest pairing. Honey coats the bitterness of the root and makes the powder far more pleasant. Half a teaspoon of powder in a spoonful of honey is enough.
Mixed with a plant oil
For external use, blend the powder into a plant oil: olive, argan or black seed oil. Mix thoroughly and let it rest before use.
As a poultice
Form a paste with a little warm water, apply to the chosen area, leave on, then rinse. A very widespread traditional use.
By inhalation
The powder can also be used by inhalation, in line with the traditional practices handed down with this plant.
Powder or capsules: which to choose?
Powder is the most versatile form: it allows every use, internal and external, and free dosing. Its drawback lies in its bitter taste and pronounced smell, which puts some people off. Capsules solve that point but are limited to internal use. Many of our customers keep both formats.
The Costus range at Miel Impérial
Prefer to avoid the bitter taste? Discover our Indian Costus capsules.
For a ready-to-use external application, find our Indian Costus oil 60 ml.
Precautions
• Prior test: before first use, place a little powder on a small area of skin and wait 24 hours to check for any reaction.
• Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for young children, purely as a precaution.
• Ongoing medical treatment: seek your doctor's advice before any use. Taking it at the same time as certain medicines, notably aspirin, is not advised.
• Avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes. Do not apply to broken skin.
• This product is a plant powder. It replaces neither a varied, balanced diet, nor medical treatment, nor the advice of a healthcare professional.
Storage
Keep the powder in its tightly closed bag or in an airtight jar, at room temperature, away from light, heat and humidity. Well stored, it keeps its characteristic smell for several months.
FAQ – Indian Costus powder
What is Qist Al Hindi?
Qist Al Hindi is the Arabic name for Indian Costus, the dried root of Saussurea costus, a high-altitude Asian plant found in the Himalayas, Kashmir, India and Pakistan.
Are Indian Costus and marine Costus the same thing?
No, they are two distinct varieties, traditionally distinguished by colour and origin. Indian Costus (Qist Al Hindi) is darker and more bitter; marine Costus (Qist Al Bahri), lighter, is considered milder.
What does Costus powder taste and smell like?
A frankly bitter taste and a warm, marked smell that many liken to ginger. That is exactly why it is traditionally mixed with honey.
How can the taste of Costus be softened?
Mixing with honey is the traditional solution: half a teaspoon of powder in a spoonful of honey. If the taste remains an obstacle, the capsule form avoids the palate entirely.
Can Costus be mixed with an oil?
Yes, that is the classic approach for external applications. Olive, argan or black seed oil all work. Mix thoroughly and let it rest before use.
Powder or capsules: which form should I choose?
Powder allows every use, internal and external, and free dosing, but comes with its taste. Capsules are simpler day to day but limited to internal use. The two formats complement each other.
How should Costus powder be stored?
In a tightly closed bag or an airtight jar, away from light, heat and humidity. Stored this way it keeps its characteristic smell for several months.
The root of the Asian peaks
Indian Costus powder · Qist Al Hindi · Saussurea costus root. A Miel Impérial selection.