The Science of Spice

172 Spice Profiles

This most potent spice has been

prized for over five millennia, by

virtually every civilization – the Greek

physician Galen praised it as “the

great panacea”. An Egyptian medical

papyrus from about 1550 bce features

22 different garlic formulas for various

ailments. The slaves who built the

Egyptian pyramids were given garlic

to sustain them and prevent disease.

The Chinese cultivated garlic for its

stimulating and healing properties,

while Roman soldiers ate it before

battle for courage and strength. In

folklore, garlic has been seen both as a

protector from evil spirits or vampires,

and as a symbol of the Devil. As a food,

its popularity has waxed and waned; it

was shunned at Roman and Greek

feasts because of its powerful odour,

but over time, garlic became integral

to many regional cuisines, including

Indian and Mediterranean.

Region of cultivation

Probably native to Central Asia, China

is now the largest producer and exporter

of garlic, followed by India, South Korea,

Russia, and the USA.

The plant

Garlic is a bulbous

perennial herb in the

onion family that

grows to a height of

0.6m (2ft). Bulbs are

ready to harvest 5–9

months after planting.

Fresh

Mature bulbs tend to have more potent

flavour, but avoid any that are showing

green shoots (see right).

Dried

Dried garlic can be flaked, powdered, or

in granule form but all lack the pine and

citrusy subtleties of the fresh spice, leaving

only the main garlicky sulphur flavours..

Store in a cool,

dark place, but

no need for

refrigeration

Bulbs consist

of up to 24

segments known

as cloves

Skin of the bulb

can be white,

yellow, pink,

or mauve

BOTANICAL NAME

Allium sativum

ALSO KNOWN AS

Camphor of the poor, stinking rose.

MAJOR FLAVOUR COMPOUND

Allicin.

PARTS USED

Bulb.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION

The bulbs are harvested when around half

the leaves have turned yellow.

METHOD OF PREPARATION

Bulbs are stored in a cool, shady place

for 10–20 days so that they lose about

one-fifth of their water content.

NON-CULINARY USES

Modern research shows garlic improves

cholesterol levels and slightly reduces

high blood pressure.

RUSSIA

INDIA

CHINA

SOUTH

KOREA

GARLIC

Pungent | Sulphurous | Sweet

Flaked

Powdered

Spice story

172-173_Garlic.indd 172 09/08/2018 14:44