Garlic Is Very Popular And Many Cultures Use This Herb

Garlic is a member of lily family. This specie is one of the most popular herbs used today. It dates back thousands of years ago and was grown in Syria and Egypt. The Chinese have also used this herb for centuries. Back in time, Roman athletes ate this herb for strength. Today there are three different varieties grown commercially throughout the world. The Creole or White is grown in America. The Italian or Mexican has a pink tone sheath, and the Tahiti bulb is large and is around four to six inches in diameter. In the United States many southern states as well as Oregon, Texas and California grow this herb commercially.

Bulb

Peeled Clove

Garlic isn't hard to grow and in northern climates you can plant in early spring. Southern climates can plant in the fall and the spring. The first step is to take the bulb and separate each clove. The onion plant is also done the same way. The soil should be rich, sandy and moist. A good rule of thumb is to plant the cloves about two inches in depth and about three inches apart. The pointed end should be pointed up. This herb can be fertilized and the area needs to be free of weeds. The soil should also be kept cultivated.

Depending on your geographic location, either late summer when the tops die down or May through July the herb should be pulled from the ground. Take the the foliage and bulbs and dry them in open air for two to three weeks. It is very popular in Italy to see braided strings of garlic hanging from fresh markets.

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There are so many different uses for a full bulb. The cloves are used fresh daily in just about any dish imaginable. The bulbs grown in Europe tend to have a milder flavor than the bulbs grown in North America. It is kind of fascinating because Americans tend to be skimpy with the amount of garlic they use as compared with Europeans. In Greece, many workmen make a clove a part of their everyday lunch. I could name hundreds of different dishes but a couple do come to mind. A tomato base sauce is best with a fresh clove. This herb is very popular with shellfish as well as many flavored soups, meats, pickles, and poultry. The fresh cloves can be stored in olive oil for easy access to any meal preparation.

Salt

Powder

Garlic salt and powder are also very popular with todays cooks. The salt is made from dried cloves and sodium chloride. The powder is freshly made from dried cloves that have been crushed. I have fresh, salt and powder available at any time in the kitchen. I will use one or the other depending on what I am preparing. Two or three cloves of garlic and leaves from other herbs can create a wonderful herb vinegar. Herb vinegars add so much flavor to cooked greens and cabbage. You can plant this herb in any size garden, or just make it part of your outdoor herb bed, or even in a planter.

The cloves also have medicinal benefits and have had for years. The oil can be used in helping an ear infection as well as muscle pain and sprains. It is a good maintenance for heart patients. It is known to destroy some types of cancers. It can also help in reducing blood clots as well as blood pressure. Be sure to consult a health care professional before using garlic for medicinal purposes.

Some people find this herb very strong and hesitate to use it. Chewing a fresh sprig of parsley after having this wonderful herb will cleanse the breath and palettes. This is one of my favorite herbs to have handy and I will use a clove or two in a lot of sautés. Do you have a garlic recipe you would like to share with us? Feel free to send the recipe and I will share it with others to enjoy!