The stuff of legend, the veritable “Stinking Rose.” I have always had a love for this herb as a flavoring agent and have since come to know and appreciate as a health food. Wikipedia has the following to add:
Allium sativum L., commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, the shallot, and the leek. Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. It has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking.[1]. A bulb of garlic, the most commonly used part of the plant, is divided into numerous fleshy sections called cloves. The cloves are used as seed, for consumption (raw or cooked), and for medicinal purposes. The leaves, stems (scape) and flowers (bulbils) on the head (spathe) are also edible and most often consumed while immature and still tender. The papery, protective layers of ’skin’ over various parts of the plant and the roots attached to the bulb are the only parts not considered palatable.
There are many materials and experts that will attest to the health benefit properties of this wonder food. My wife comes from a family of garlic farmers. We are blessed with a good supply of the particularly pungent Taiwan varietal. Last night I accidentally bit into some that was still raw. I was tricked! Actually, this was in brine from my wife’s delicious “pao tsai” 泡菜 a pickled cabbage concoction with carrots, cucumbers, chilis and garlic. I had an instant almost virulent reaction to the garlic reaching my stomach. This reminded me of when I first came here over 20 years ago and went to a dumpling restaurant. They had abundant supply of raw garlic on each table along with chili paste, soy sauce, fragrant oil and vinegar-the usual acoutrements for dumplings. I spotted an old mainlander(many of the Chinese in Taiwan came from China with Chiang Kai Shek in 1949) taking a garlic clove and eating it after he had scarfed a dumpling. So naturally wanting a genuine experience I followed suit. Dang-talk about the China syndrome! Total nuclear melt down in my gut.
My wife saw what was happening and poured me a glass of water. She added that garlic helps prevent cancer-I can’t see how any microbe can withstand heat like that.
