Garlic’s Glow-Up: From Kitchen Staple to Premium Product

Garlic’s Global Footprint

Where Garlic Grows Best

China leads the garlic game by a mile, producing over 70% of the world’s supply. The Shandong province is often called the garlic capital of the world, with massive farms and sophisticated export systems. Other key players include India, South Korea, Egypt, Spain, and the United States.

Each region has its own variety and growing methods. For example, Spanish garlic tends to be sweeter and milder, while Chinese garlic is often stronger and spicier. These flavor differences aren’t just about taste. They influence pricing, export strategies, and market preferences.

The Demand Never Sleeps

Garlic is one of those rare ingredients that cuts across cuisines. Whether it's aioli in France, kimchi in Korea, or adobo in the Philippines, garlic is foundational. That constant global demand makes it a reliable crop, even in volatile markets.

Garlic also stores well and ships easily, which makes it perfect for international trade. Unlike many other crops, it doesn’t require refrigeration and can be kept in storage for months if properly cured. That’s a logistical win for both growers and buyers.

How Garlic Is Grown and Harvested

Farming Garlic: Labor-Intensive but Worth It

Garlic farming starts with planting individual cloves, not seeds. Those cloves are placed into the soil by hand or with specialized machinery. The plant takes about eight to nine months to mature, and timing is everything. Too early and the bulbs won’t develop. Too late and they’ll start to rot.

Harvesting is mostly done by hand, especially in regions where mechanization isn’t practical. After harvest, the bulbs are dried (also called curing), sorted, trimmed, and prepped for sale.

Organic and Specialty Garlic on the Rise

More consumers are seeking organic garlic, or heirloom varieties like black garlic or elephant garlic. These types often come from small or medium-sized farms and are sold at a premium. Farmers markets, specialty grocers, and online food retailers are helping create niche markets that add value beyond bulk sales.

From Kitchen Staple to Health Hero

Functional Foods and Wellness Trends

Garlic has long been celebrated for its health benefits, from boosting immunity to lowering blood pressure. Allicin, the compound released when garlic is chopped or crushed, is believed to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

This has pushed garlic into the wellness world. Garlic supplements, aged garlic extract, and even garlic-infused drinks are showing up on pharmacy shelves and in online wellness stores. Consumers aren’t just eating garlic, they’re also taking it as part of their daily health routine.

The Rise of Processed and Value-Added Products

Minced garlic in jars, garlic powders, roasted garlic spreads, black garlic, the industry has gone beyond the bulb. Food manufacturers are developing convenient, value-added garlic products that save time in the kitchen and offer extended shelf life.

These products are especially popular in urban centers where home cooking happens in shorter bursts. For restaurants and catering businesses, pre-processed garlic options are labor savers that still deliver flavor.

Not All Garlic Is Created Equal: Varieties Worth Knowing

Black Garlic: The Gourmet Game-Changer

Black garlic is garlic, but with a twist. It’s made by slowly fermenting whole bulbs under controlled heat and humidity for several weeks. The result? Soft, sweet, umami-rich cloves that look nothing like the original but are packed with flavor and antioxidants. Think of it as garlic’s sophisticated cousin. Less sharp, more complex, and a favorite among chefs in high-end restaurants.

While originally popularized in South Korea and Japan, black garlic has now gone global. You’ll find it in sauces, marinades, spreads, and even chocolate. It’s also gaining traction in the health and wellness world, thanks to its high levels of S-allyl cysteine, a compound linked to antioxidant activity.

For producers, black garlic offers serious value-add potential. What starts as a standard bulb can be turned into a gourmet product that commands a much higher price. Small-scale garlic growers and food entrepreneurs are jumping into this space, experimenting with recipes and aging techniques to create their own signature black garlic lines.

Other Garlic Varieties Worth a Look

There’s more to garlic than the usual supermarket bulb. Here's a quick look at other popular types:

• Elephant Garlic: Despite the name, it’s actually more closely related to leeks. The bulbs are massive and have a much milder, onion-like flavor. Great for roasting whole or slicing raw into salads.
• Hardneck Garlic: Known for its strong flavor and easy-to-peel cloves, this variety grows well in colder climates and often produces garlic scapes, which are also edible and popular in gourmet cooking.
• Softneck Garlic: This is the kind you usually see braided. It stores well, has more cloves per bulb, and is the standard for most commercial growers.
• Purple Stripe and Rocambole: These heirloom varieties are favorites among garlic lovers for their rich, complex flavor. They’re often found at farmers markets or specialty stores and tend to be grown in smaller batches.

Each type offers something different, whether it's taste, storage life, or aesthetic appeal. For chefs, food buyers, and consumers chasing unique flavors, garlic variety is becoming just as important as quality.

The Original Black Garlic

Company Name – The Original Black Garlic
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom
Core Products – Black garlic

The Original Black Garlic has been changing the garlic game since 2008. It all began when founder Katy Heath discovered black garlic during a trip to Korea and saw its unique potential. After returning to London, she developed a slow aging process that uses only heat and humidity to create soft, sweet, and umami-rich black garlic.

Their black garlic has a deep, mellow flavor with hints of molasses, tamarind, caramel, and balsamic. It’s packed with depth and makes an excellent addition to sauces, marinades, or even as a healthy snack on its own.

Each bulb is carefully aged by hand in the UK. With no additives or preservatives involved, it’s a natural way to elevate your cooking and bring gourmet taste to everyday meals. Once you try it, regular garlic just won't compare