Garlic

plants · cooking · flavor

Bulb with layers. Garlic grows as a round bulb underground that breaks apart into smaller cloves, each wrapped in papery skin. You peel away these layers to reach the strong-tasting flesh inside.

Native to Central Asia. Garlic originally came from the mountainous regions of Central Asia and the foothills of the Himalayas. Traders and travelers spread it around the world to places like Europe, China, and beyond.

Part of the Allium family. Garlic is closely related to onions, shallots, leeks, and chives, all of which grow as bulbs and have strong, sharp flavors. They're all members of the same plant family.

Pungent and powerful. When you cut or crush garlic, it releases oils that make your breath smell and give it that unforgettable taste. These compounds are what make garlic so flavorful in cooking.

Hundreds of varieties. There are two main subspecies of garlic, and within those are hundreds of different varieties that grow in different parts of the world. Some are milder, some are stronger, and some grow differently.