How to Learn Garlic Varieties

Garlic is classified in two separate groups known as the hard-necked garlic (Ophioscorodon) and soft-necked garlic (Allium Sativum). The hard-necked garlic is the oldest and purest garlic, while the soft-necked garlic have been cultivated and bred through a process of selection by growers from the hard-necked type. Five varieties of garlic can be listed: Purple-Stripe, Artichoke, Silverskin, Porcelain and Rocambole.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Recognize Purple-Stripe garlic as a hard-necked garlic with very vivid purple stripes running vertically on the bulb wrappers. This garlic is very rich tasting and makes wonderfully sweet roasted garlic. Some varieties of this garlic have purple marbling or other purple color patterns.
2. Find Artichoke garlic in the soft-necked category. This particular garlic variety is the one seen in most supermarkets and grocery stores. These bulbs are the easiest to grow, produce bulbs with many cloves and a flavor that varies widely.
3. Recognize Silverskin garlic as the variety most commonly seen in “braids.” They store longer than most all other varieties. This variety produces many smaller cloves than the Artichoke garlic. The wrapper is very bright white. Creole Silverskins are grown in southern regions and exhibit a rose-colored skin.
4. Identify Porcelain garlic as having a very thick, white wrapper with some purple striping and large cloves in small number. This variety has a very pungent taste.
5. Learn that Rocambole garlics have a thin bulb wrapper that is often marbled and striped with purple. Some Rocambole garlic varieties exhibit a dirty brownish appearance. This garlic variety is the favorite tasting of many garlic lovers.

Tips & Warnings

• Elephant garlic found in stores is not a true garlic. Elephant garlic is a member of the leek family with a mild garlic-onion taste. They average five to six extremely large cloves per bulb.
• Garlic can cause allergic reactions in some people. Rashes are not uncommon.
• Garlic can inhibit blood clotting. Consult a doctor before ingesting.

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