Garlic

About
A member of the lily family, garlic is a cousin to leeks, chives, onions and shallots. The edible bulb, or head, grows below the ground. The bulb is made up of sections, called cloves, each encased in its own parchment-like skin. In Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries, as well as India and China, garlic is an indispensable cooking ingredient. The flavor mellows when cooked.

Varieties
American
White-skinned, strong flavor.

Elephant
Not really true garlic, but a relative of the leek; very mild flavor and larger heads.

Green Garlic
Young garlic before it begins to form cloves. Resembles a baby leek with long green top and small white bulb. The flavor is much softer that that of mature garlic.

Italian
Mauve-colored skin with a somewhat milder flavor.

Availability
Year-round.

Nutrition Information:
• Fat, sodium and cholesterol free
For complete nutritional information, click here.

Additional Information
• Why Eat It - Selection - Storage - Preparation
• From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia