
What Are The 12 Different Types Of Garlic
- 1. Elephant Garlic ...
- 2. Chesnok Red Garlic ...
- 3. Georgian Fire Garlic ...
- 4. Artichoke Garlic ...
- 5. Porcelain Garlic ...
- 6.Inchelium Red Garlic Inchelium Red garlic is one of the most flexible types of garlic as it can adapt to different growing zones, with high productivity, and early maturity. ...
- 7. Purple Stripe Garlic ...
- 8. Creole Garlic ...
Full Answer
Which form of garlic is best?
Hardneck garlic tends to grow best in areas with very cold winters, since they require a longer time of vernalization (i.e., they need a long, cold winter to be dormant so they can flower in the spring). (1) Softneck garlic. Note how many more cloves it has and that it lacks the central stalk. (2) Hardneck garlic.
How many different types of garlic are there?
Types of Garlic
- Garlic Varieties. Garlic, garlic, hanging on the wall, which of you is the best of all? ...
- Softneck Garlic. Softneck garlic is the type you'll most likely see in the produce section of your grocery store. ...
- Hardneck Garlic. Unlike softneck garlic, hardneck varieties do not have a flexible stalk. ...
- The Brightest Bulb. Select bulbs that are completely dry. ...
What kind of garlic should you plant?
What type of garlic should you plant? Some gardeners like to grow top-setting garlic, also called hardneck. Common hardneck types include Korean, Dujanski, Siberian, Music, Chesnock Red, German Red and Spanish Roja. These varieties produce tiny bulblets at the end of a tall flowering stalk in addition to a fat underground bulb of cloves.
How to identify garlic varieties?
Purple Stripe Subspecies:
- Hard-neck garlics (produce thick scapes) named for their bright purple streaks and blotches on the outside bulb wrappers and also the clove skins.
- Very complex flavors, often winning garlic tasting contests.
- Most have 8-12 cloves, slightly smaller than the Rocambole subtypes

How many types of garlic are there?
There are 11 different horticultural groups of garlic. Three of them are classified under softneck: Silverskin, Artichoke, and Middle Eastern. Hardneck varieties of garlic are divided into eight groups: Porcelain, Rocambole, Purple Stripe, Glazed Purple Stripe, Marble Purple Stripe, Asiatic, Turban, and Creole.
Which type of garlic is best?
If you want a longer supply of fresh garlic, even after harvesting, Porcelain is your best option. They are the most reliable and longest storing hardneck variety. But if you are keener on taste, you cannot go wrong with Rocambole. This is said to have the best flavor of any garlic.
What is the difference between types of garlic?
There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Garlic is separated into these two categories based on each variety's tendency to develop flower stalks, its hardiness, and its clove formation pattern. Before planting garlic, it's important to decide whether hardneck or softneck garlic is best for you.
Which type of garlic is the healthiest?
The 3 Healthiest Garlic varieties are known here in the USA as Romanian Red, Georgian Crystal, and Siberian.
Which garlic do chefs prefer?
What are the differences among garlic varieties? Garlic falls into two primary categories: hardneck and softneck. The garlic that most of us cook with is softneck, so called because its neck is soft and braidable.
What kind of garlic do you buy from the grocery store?
Garlic Varieties Allium sativum is the most common type of garlic; it is the one you'll typically find in the grocery store and is often called "culinary" garlic. Fortunately, this is the species that also offers the most healing properties. You might occasionally find Allium ursinum in specialty or farmer's markets.
Which garlic is best raw or cooked?
However, some studies have suggested that raw garlic may be more effective than the cooked version, while garlic supplements are the most effective. Garlic tea retains the health benefits of raw garlic, as long as it is prepared properly: the key is boiling your crushed garlic no longer than 3 minutes.
What garlic is most potent?
Red Donetsk Garlic It is a vigorous type of plant which produces very large cloves. Once harvested, this garlic will keep until at least January. This is our strongest tasting garlic available.
What garlic keeps the longest?
Silverskin, Creole and Artichoke Garlics are the longest storing of all the garlic varieties. Under ideal conditions (56-58 degrees F with 45-50% humidity), these varieties may last for more than a year.
What is unhealthy about garlic?
It can cause side effects such as bad breath, heartburn, gas, and diarrhea. These side effects are often worse with raw garlic. Garlic might also increase the risk of bleeding and cause allergic reactions in some people.
Is garlic more healthy than onion?
But although they may not look like nutritional powerhouses, experts say they are. Onions of all colors (including white) are good sources of vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and folate, while garlic is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamin, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, copper and manganese.
Is garlic OK to eat everyday?
Raw garlic also retains more allicin, which is the sulfur-containing compound responsible for many of garlic's beneficial health effects. For best results, aim for around 1–2 cloves per day and reduce your intake if you experience any side effects, such as heartburn, acid reflux, or increased bleeding.
How many different types of garlic are there?
All these varieties can generally be categorized into one of less than a dozen groups, though. A 2004 study showed that the genetic fingerprints of 211 different varieties of garlic could basically be put into ten groups, eight of which are hardneck garlic: the robust, slightly sweet Rocambole; the hot, sulfurous Porcelain; the tasty, raw Purple Stripe; the hardy, bakeable Marble Purple Stripe; the plump, glossy Asiatic; the succulent, easily-harvested Turban; the rosy, warm Creole and richly violet, quickly maturing Glazed Purple Stripe.
What is the scape of garlic?
The scape is the flowering stalk that grows in the middle of hardneck garlic bulbs. If left to grow, the green stem will curl and form a white bulb, but it is usually removed so that the plant will not produce more seeds and will instead grow a bigger bulb.
How many cloves of garlic are in a bulb?
There are usually between four and twelve cloves in each bulb. “People tend to like big bulbs,” said David Fuller, agriculture and non-timber forest product professional at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. “When well grown, hardnecks grow pretty big bulbs.”. Hardneck garlic grows best in areas with cold weather conditions.
What is hardneck garlic?
Hardneck garlic ( Allium sativum ophioscorodon) are characterized by woody central stalks and a green curly stalk, also known as a scape. Hardneck garlic forms cloves through a process of vernalization, whereby the garlic is exposed to cold temperatures by staying in the ground over the course of the winter. There are usually between four and ...
How is garlic grown?
Fuller explained that garlic is grown by planting cloves directly into the ground, so it is fairly easy to develop a new varietal with a slightly different taste depending on the environmental conditions where they are grown. All these varieties can generally be categorized into one of less than a dozen groups, though.
What does spring garlic taste like?
Spring garlic is common in Asian cuisine can be used as a substitute for leeks, scallions, chives or garlic in a recipe (one stalk, Fuller said, is about equal to one clove).
What is elephant garlic?
Elephant garlic ( Allium ampeloprasum ), also sometimes known as buffalo garlic, is actually a misnomer: the enormous bulbs are actually a type of leek. The bulb forms a few cloves and is generally milder than most garlics.
What is garlic paste?
Garlic paste is simply fresh garlic, pureed with a bit of oil. It is incredibly convenient, since all you need to do is spoon out the amount that you need. However that convenience does come with a caveat: For me, the flavor is never what I hope it's going to be, and I have often detected some "off" flavors. The paste packaged in tubes seems to taste marginally better than that in jars.
What is the most common way to eat garlic?
Whole heads of garlic, consisting of a varying number of individual "cloves" encased in a papery skin is probably the most common and straightforward way we encounter garlic. This is my favorite because of the fresh, strong flavor, and the fact that nothing has been done to the garlic — no drying or grinding or preservatives. All you need to do is remove the papery skin and then slice or mince, smash or grate.
What is fried garlic chips?
Fried garlic chips are small slices of garlic, fried in oil until golden. They are cooked on low enough temperatures that they never reach that awful, acrid "burned garlic" stage. I find them delicious.They are a mainstay of many Eastern cuisines, and are beginning to make their presence known in the West. While completely different from all versions of fresh garlic, they offer great crunch and a powerful (but not overpowering) hit of garlic flavor. I think fried garlic is a worthwhile addition to your pantry, so I'd suggest buying a small container and experimenting. I think garlic lovers will really enjoy it, especially for finishing dishes with a crunchy, garlic topper.
Can you freeze garlic cloves?
You can also find fresh, pre-peeled garlic cloves in most grocery stores. This is a great option if you need A LOT of garlic at once. It's also a wonderful choice if, like me, you freeze the peeled cloves. While freezing changes the texture, the flavor remains the same and the convenience factor is off the charts. I always have all the fresh garlic I need, but never have garlic spoil in my garlic/shallot/onion basket.
Is fresh garlic the only form of garlic?
Of course, "fresh" isn 't the only form of garlic you'll find at the supermarket. We have come to love garlic so much that there are now numerous ways to purchase it. Let's look at a few of the most common ones:
What is the best garlic to sell in farmers markets?
They store very well — similar to Artichokes and Silverskins — and the bold visual appearance of many Creole types of garlic make them great sellers in farmers markets. Popular Creole garlic varieties include Creole Red, Ajo Rojo, Burgundy, Pescadero Red, and Rose de Lautrec. Rocambole: Rocambole garlics aren’t the prettiest garlic ...
What is the earliest garlic?
Turbans are one of the earliest-maturing types of garlics and grow well in warmer climates as compared to Porcelains and Rocamboles. Popular Turban varieties include Red Janice, China Dawn, Shandong, and Tzan. Creole: Creole garlics share many traits with Asiatics and Turbans and are some of the prettier garlics as far as appearance ...
What garlics are hardneck and softneck?
Turbans, Asiatics, and Creoles show characteristics of both hardneck and softneck garlics and are all three weakly bolting garlic varieties — they don’t always form scapes/flowers.
What is the difference between turban and Asiatic garlic?
They have very large cloves and fewer cloves — usually five to eight per bulb — than Asiatics do.
How many cloves of garlic per bulb?
Creole garlics typically have 8-12 cloves per bulb and are one of the better-suited garlics for growing in warmer U.S. states, as many other garlics struggle in areas with warmer winters and early, hot summers.
What is a softneck?
Softnecks: Artichoke and Silverskin. Garlic has been cultivated for thousands of years but there’s surprisingly little scientific research into many varieties so classification is often a matter of guesstimation and convenience as opposed to a matter of hard science. Only DNA analysis can prove if a variety is actually unique;
How many types of garlic are there?
Types of Garlic. There are over 600 named varieties (and counting) of garlic which are grouped into two main subspecies — ophioscorodon (hardneck) and sativum (soft neck) — and then typically further classified into the following ten major categories for types of garlic: Hardnecks: Asiatic, Turban, Creole, Rocambole, Porcelain, Purple Stripe, ...
How many cloves of porcelain garlic can you peel?
Those who are struggling when it comes to peeling, you don’t have to worry as this garlic is very easy to peel. Its bulb can hold up to seven cloves which are delicious to eat.
What is elephant garlic?
1. Elephant Garlic. The elephant garlic belongs to the onion genus family, which is a perennial plant. Sometimes, it is referred to as a solo garlic as its bulb produces large cloves. Elephant garlic produces a milder flavor when compared to other garlic varieties, which some people find it more palatable.
What is the flowering stem of hardneck garlic?
The hardneck garlic varieties have garlic scapes which is the long flowering stem that eventually develops tiny bulbils at its top end of its woody stem. Beneath the garlic scape is where you will find the central flowering stem that the single row of cloves are wrapped together in a papery sheath to form the bulb of the garlic.
What are the different types of garlic?
What Are The 12 Different Types Of Garlic. Garlic is being distinguished by two categories, which are softneck garlic and hardneck garlic . Softneck garlic allium sativum is a type of garlic that’s best to grow in a milder climate region.
How many cloves of garlic per bulb?
This garlic is a favorite by home gardeners and farmers due to its stunning flavor and cloves. The garlic cloves are large and could grow from 6 to 8 cloves per bulb. To get the best of its flavor, you can roast the georgian fire garlic. Others may prefer to eat it fresh and raw due to its pleasant hot flavor.
Why is garlic black?
The reason why it is black because of the aging process it went through called caramelization. Black garlic is being used as a flavor in a lot of asian cuisines. You can use any garlic and turn it into a black one. 12.
How long does it take for garlic to grow?
For regions with colder climates, you can plan this in December. It may take up to 210 days for this garlic to mature.
How many cloves of garlic are in a Creole garlic bulb?
Creole Garlic is originally a smooth-necked garlic variety and has come out in a category of its own – literally. These garlic bulbs tend to hold up to 12 cloves and range from pretty bright pink to an almost purple glow. Unlike the tough pink varieties of garlic, the onion itself tends to be pink/red/purple.
Why do I love elephant garlic?
I love this type of garlic because its giant cloves make it easy to peel. Also, when I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to cook onions and garlic, I tend to use elephant garlic by default.
How long does artichoke last?
They are white to yellowish-white in color with a thick, hard-to-peel outer layer. The beauty of this is its long shelf life – up to eight months. Some types of artichoke garlic include:
What is the process of turning garlic black?
A mixture of fermentation, dehydration, and gentle heat is used to cream the sugars in garlic over a long period of time and turn them black.
How long does it take for garlic to caramelize?
Regular garlic may take up to a month to reach this caramel/fermentation stage.
What is silver leather?
Silver leather is highly productive and adaptable to many climates and is the type of garlic used for garlic braids. Types of garlic plants intended for silver leather include.
What is hard-necked garlic?
Hard-necked garlic (Allium sativum ophioscorodon) tends to have more flavor than its soft-necked cousins. They are characterized by solid woody centre stems and a long flower stalk (scape) that twists and turns, usually twice. They tend to have four to twelve lobes per bulb.
Where Does Garlic Come From?
Fresh garlic has been a common seasoning across the world for millennia. It was used as a condiment and traditional medicine, across Europe and Asia.
How many hardneck garlic varieties are there?
Besides these five hardneck garlic cultivars, we also have three weakly bolting hardnecks. These are varieties that can produce a scape in harsh conditions such as drought or excessive heat. But otherwise grow like a softneck.
What is a hardneck garlic stalk?
Image courtesy. Garlic scapes refer to the flowering stalks that sprout from the bulbs.
What zone does softneck garlic grow in?
Softneck garlic has a mild flavor and grows best in warm USDA zones 5 and higher.
Why is softneck garlic used?
Softneck garlic is a popular option for commercial use because of how easy it is to grow and maintain. It’s not delicate and will survive automated planning.
Why do farmers chop off scapes?
Although scapes are a delicacy in many cuisines, farmers usually chop them off. They do this to encourage the plants to focus all their energy on growing bulbs. Hardneck garlic varieties also do better than softnecks in cold weather.
How many cloves of garlic are in a porcelain garlic clove?
Porcelain garlic is closely related to Rocambole in flavor. It produces large cloves, usually four to six, and is covered in a smooth white wrapper.
What is the best garlic to grow?
Silverskin garlic has pale narrow upright leaves, thin pale bulb wrappers, and weak necks. It is high-yielding and easy to grow in a range of soils and climates. Silverskins may form a flower stalk if they are stressed by drought or cold. This type works well for braiding. Ron Engeland says silverskins are the best for long storage, lasting six to twelve months.#N#Artichoke garlic has a mild flavor. Its tight-skinned cloves are hard to peel but have a long storage life. Plants often produce large bulbils low on a soft stem. They may also develop a hard stem if they are stressed.
What is hardneck garlic?
Hardneck garlic is also called ophio garlic or bolting garlic. It produces a hard seed stalk in the center of the plant before the bulb reaches maturity. If you pinch these stalks off while they’re still young and tender, you’ll get garlic scapes to use in stir-fries, soups, pesto, etc. Allowed to mature, the stalks will produce bulbils that resemble miniature garlic cloves. Hardneck garlic generally produces a single ring of 6-10 cloves.
Why is garlic grown in different climates?
Garlic is grown in many climates and cultures for its pungent flavor and its health benefits. Different types of garlic thrive in different conditions and have different qualities. This article will help you pick a garlic variety that’s right for your climate and your cooking needs.
Is softneck garlic hard?
Softneck garlic is sometimes called Italian garlic. It does not form a hard seed stalk unless it is stressed. Plants may produce a few bulbils low among their leaves, or may not produce bulbils at all. Each head includes 12-20 cloves arranged in 3-6 layers.

From fresh to dried to paste, here’s a primer on the different forms of garlic you’ll encounter in the grocery store — and when to use whic
- It's hard to believe, considering the near ubiquity of this fragrant allium in our lives today, that les…
Garlic (Allium Sativum) started it's progression towards world domination in Central Asia, but is now commonly grown throughout much of the world. Its close relatives are the other "alliums," including onions, shallots, leeks, and chives. The flavor of fresh garlic can depend not only on va…
Fresh Garlic
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Powdered and Granulated Garlic
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Garlic Paste
- Garlic paste is simply fresh garlic, pureed with a bit of oil. It is incredibly convenient, since all yo…
If you really want the convenience of the paste, I'd suggest making your own with peeled cloves and a bit of oil in a mini food processor. I say mini because I wouldn't keep the paste in the fridge for much more than a week... so don't be tempted to make an excess, unless you're making Indi…
Minced "Fresh" Garlic
- This can be a very controversial category of garlic. I know people who swear by these refrigerat…
Plus, the texture — which would appear to be like that of actual freshly minced garlic — is off-puttingly mushy. While I completely understand the appeal of the concept, the reality (for me) is that the jars of minced "fresh" garlic are a non-starter.
Fried Garlic
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