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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive,[1] and rakkyo.[2] Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia,[3] and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was known to Ancient Egyptians, and has been used throughout its history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.[4] Description Allium sativum is a bulb. It grows up to 0.6 m (2ft) in height. Its hardiness is USDA Zone 8. It produces hermaphrodite flowers. Pollination occurs by insects and bees. Origin and major types The of cultivated garlic not definitively established. According to Zohary and Hopf,[5] in the identification its wild progenitor is the sterility of the cultivars, though it is thought to be end from the species Allium longicuspis, which grows wild in central and southwestern Asia.[6][7] Allium sativum grows in the wild in areas where it has become naturalised. The wild garlic, crow garlic, and field garlic of Britain are members of the species Allium ursinum, Allium vineale, and Allium oleraceum, respectively. In North America, Allium vineale (known as wild garlic or crow garlic) and Allium canadense, known as meadow garlic or wild garlic and wild onion, are common weeds in fields.[8] One of the best-known , the socalled elephant garlic, is actually a wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum), and not a true garlic. Single clove garlic (also called pearl or solo garlic) originated in the Yunnan province of China.

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European garlic Italian garlic PDO (Aglio Bianco Polesano) There a number of garlics with Protected Geographical Status in Europe; these include:Aglio Bianco Polesano from Veneto, Italy (PDO) n Aglio di Voghiera from Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (PDO) n Ail blanc de Lomagne from Lomagne in the Gascony area of France (PGI) n Ail de la Drme from Drme in France (PGI) n Ail rose de Lautrec a rose/pink garlic from Lautrec in France (PGI) n Ajo M orado de Las Pedroeras a rose/pink garlic from Las Pedroeras in Spain (PGI)

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Varieties Within the species, Allium sativum, there are also two main subspecies[9] or varieties.[10] n Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon (Link) Dll, called Ophioscorodon, or hard necked garlic, includes porcelain garlics, rocambole garlic, and purple stripe garlics. It is sometimes considered to be a separate species, Allium ophioscorodon G.Don. n Allium sativum var. sativum, or garlic, includes artichoke garlic, silverskin garlic, and creole garlic. Bulb garlic is available in many forms, including , frozen, dried, fermented (black garlic) products (in tubes or jars). In addition, see Culinary uses for other edible parts of the garlic plant.

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Cultivation Garlic is easy to grow and can be grown year-round in mild climates. of garlic indeed , nearly all of the garlic in cultivation is propagated asexually, by planting individual cloves in the ground.[6] In cold climates, cloves are planted in the fall, about six weeks before the soil freezes, and harvested in late spring.[11] Garlic plants are usually very hardy, and are not attacked by many pests or diseases. Garlic plants are said to repel rabbits and moles.[2] Two of the major pathogens that attack garlic are nematodes and white rot disease, which remain in the soil indefinitely after the ground has become infected.[6] Garlic also can suffer from pink root, a typically nonfatal disease that stunts the roots and turns them pink or red.[12]

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Garlic plants can be grown closely together, leaving enough space for the bulbs to mature, and are easily grown in containers of sufficient depth. When selecting garlic for planting, it is important to pick large heads from which to separate cloves. Large cloves, along with proper spacing in the planting bed, will also improve head size. Garlic plants prefer to grow in a soil with a high organic material content, but are capable of growing in a wide range of soil conditions and pH levels.[6] There are different types or subspecies of garlic, most notably hardneck garlic and softneck garlic. The latitude where the garlic is grown affects the choice of type as garlic can be day-length sensitive. Hardneck garlic is generally grown in cooler climates; softneck garlic is generally grown closer to the equator.[13][14] Garlic scapes are removed to focus all the garlics energy into bulb growth. The scapes can be eaten raw or cooked.[11][15] Production trends Garlic is grown globally, but China is by far the largest producer of garlic, with approximately 10.5 million tonnes (23 billion pounds) grown annually, accounting for over 77% of world output. India (4.1%) and South Korea (2%) follow, with Egypt and Russia (1.6%) tied in fourth place and the United States (where garlic is grown in every state except for Alaska) in sixth place (1.4%).[16] This leaves 16% of global garlic production in countries that each produce less than 2% of global output. Much of the garlic production in the United States is centered in Gilroy, California, which calls itself the garlic capital of the world.[17]

Uses Garlic is widely used around the world for its pungent flavor as a seasoning or condiment. The garlic plants bulb is the most commonly used part of the plant. With the exception of the single clove types, garlic bulbs are normally divided into numerous fleshy sections called cloves. Garlic cloves are used for consumption (raw or cooked) or for medicinal purposes. They have a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking.[18] Other parts of the garlic plant are also edible. The leaves and flowers (bulbils) on the head (spathe) are sometimes eaten. They are milder in flavor than the bulbs,[2] and are most often consumed while immature and still tender. Immature garlic is sometimes pulled, rather like a scallion, and sold as green garlic.[19] When past the scallion stage, it may produce a garlic round, a bulb like a boiling onion, but not separated into cloves like a mature bulb.[20] Additionally, the immature flower stalks (scapes) of the hardneck and elephant types are sometimes marketed for uses similar to asparagus in stir-fries.[6]

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Inedible or rarely eaten parts of the garlic plant include the skin and root cluster. , layers of skin over various parts of the plant are generally discarded during preparation for most culinary uses, though in Korea immature whole s re sometimes prepared with the skins intact.[21] The root attached to the basal plate the bulb is the only part not typically considered palatable in any form. Garlic is a fundamental component in many or most dishes of various regions, including eastern Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, northern Africa, southern Europe, and parts of South and Central America. The flavour varies in intensity and aroma with the different cooking methods. It is often paired with onion, tomato, or ginger. The parchment-like skin is much like the skin of an onion, and is typically removed before using in raw or cooked form. An alternative is to cut the top off the bulb, coat the cloves by dribbling olive oil (or other oil-based seasoning) over them, and roast them in an oven. Garlic softens and can be extracted from the cloves by squeezing the (root) end of the bulb, or individually by squeezing one end of the clove. In Korea, heads of garlic are fermented at high temperature; the resulting product, called black garlic, is sweet and syrupy, and is now being sold in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Garlic may be applied to breads to create a variety of classic dishes, such as garlic bread, garlic toast, bruschetta, crostini and canap. Oils can be flavored with garlic cloves. These infused oils are used to season all categories of vegetables, meats, breads and pasta. In some cuisines, the young bulbs are pickled for three to six weeks in a mixture of sugar, salt, and spices. In eastern Europe, the shoots are pickled and eaten as an appetizer. Immature scapes are tender and edible. They are also known as garlic spears, stems, or tops. Scapes generally have a milder taste than the cloves. They are often used in stir frying or braised like asparagus.[15] Garlic leaves are a popular vegetable in many parts of Asia. The leaves are cut, cleaned, and then stir-fried with eggs, meat, or vegetables. Mixing garlic with egg yolks and olive oil produces aioli. Garlic, oil, and a chunky base produce skordalia. Blending garlic, almond, oil, and soaked bread produces ajoblanco. Garlic powder has a different taste from fresh garlic. If used as a substitute for fresh garlic, 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder is equivalent to one clove of garlic. Storage Domestically, garlic is stored warm [above 18 C (64 F)] and dry to keep it dormant (so it does not sprout). It is traditionally hung; softneck varieties are often braided in strands called plaits or grappes. Peeled cloves may be stored in wine or vinegar in the refrigerator.[22] Commercially, garlic is stored at 0 C (32 F), in a dry, low-humidity environment.[23] Garlic will keep longer if the tops remain attached.[6] Garlic is often kept in oil to produce flavoured oil; however, the practice requires measures to be taken to prevent the garlic from spoiling. Untreated garlic kept in oil can support the growth of Clostridium botulinum which causes the deadly botulism illness; refrigeration will not assure the safety of garlic kept in oil. To reduce this risk, the oil should be refrigerated and used within one week. Commercially prepared oils are widely available. Manufacturers add s and/or other chemicals to eliminate the risk of botulism in their products.[24] Two outbreaks of botulism related to garlic stored in oil have been reported.[25][26]

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POEM BY KATE LEBO