I Gar-lic You Alot! | The Warrior Blends

The name garlic comes from garleac, or "spear leek" and although it's origins are still debated, it is a member of the lily (Liliaceae) family and related to chives, onions, leeks and shallots and has been used for thousands of years making this pungent herb is one of the oldest cultivated plants.

Garlic was revered by the Egyptians as a God and used as a currency to pay workers building pyramids. In addition, it has been used for medicinal purposes, believe to be an aphrodisiac and of course we all know it wards off evil and vampires at bay!

Garlic is also really easy to grow because it grows well in a wide range of climates and soil conditions. it is also quite hardy and disease resistant to the point that we grow it both for cooking but also use it to companion plant coupled with onions and chives as it's smell deters pests and some animals.

Types of Garlic

There are two main types of garlic; hardneck and softneck. The hardneck garlic plant products a flowering stalk called a scape. The scape starts at the base of the bulb and follows up through the neck resulting in the neck of the bulb to be hard. Although the hardneck is more flavorful and easier to peel, they do not store well.

Softneck garlic, the most common variety and found in most grocery stores, generally do not flower and form seed, and may produce bulblets on their stem. They are easier to grow and if stored in a cool, dry place, will last six to eight months. Oh and the elephant garlic? No, it's not real garlic. It is actual a leek and is a member of the onion family.

We use garlic in one form or another in most of our recipes but the roast garlic with Bacon n' Pepper is one of my favorites. You can serve this with crackers or eat the caramelized roasted cloves rightout of the heads, or mash them up and use them with pasta or in your favorite dip. Regardless, the truly is the best way to use garlic! And although we won't use if for this recipe, I have to share my favorite garlic tool. We discovered it while taking a Thai cooking class at Sur La Table and if you use garlic? This tool will change your life. You can find it here.