What country was garlic from?

Answer 1

Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, andrakkyo. With a history of human use of over 7,000 years, garlic is native to Central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was known to Ancient Egyptians, and has been used for both culinary and medicinalpurposes.

Origin and major types[edit source | editbeta]

According to Zohary and Hopf, "A difficulty in the identification of its wild progenitor is the sterility of the cultivars", though it is thought to be descended from the species Allium longicuspis, which grows wild in central and southwestern Asia. Allium sativum grows in the wild in areas where it has become naturalized. The "wild garlic", "crow garlic", and "field garlic" of Britain are members of the species Allium ursinum, Allium vineale, and Allium oleraceum, respectively. In North America, Allium vineale(known as "wild garlic" or "crow garlic") and Allium canadense, known as "meadow garlic" or "wild garlic" and "wild onion", are common weeds in fields.One of the best-known "garlics", the so-called elephant garlic, is actually a wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum), and not a true garlic. Single clove garlic (also called pearl or solo garlic) originated in the Yunnan province of China.

European garlic[edit source | editbeta]Flower head

There are a number of garlics with Protected Geographical Status in Europe; these include:

• Aglio Rosso di Nubia (Red Garlic of Nubia) from Nubia-Paceco, Provincia di Trapani, Sicily, Italy
• Aglio Bianco Polesano from Veneto, Italy(PDO)
• Aglio di Voghiera from Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (PDO)
• Ail blanc de Lomagne from Lomagne in the Gascony area of France(PGI)
• Ail de la Drôme from Drôme in France (PGI)
• Ail rose de Lautrec a rose/pink garlic from Lautrec in France (PGI)
• Ajo Morado de las Pedroñeras a rose/pink garlic from Las Pedroñeras in Spain(PGI)