No
matter how swiftly our fastlane world renders new innovations obsolete,
some things never change. We’ll always hold onto a few precious,
old-and-true, simple, helpful gifts—treasures Mother Nature
recognized long ago as vital to our wellbeing. Topping this list of
treasures we find garlic, the flavorful bulb cultivated the world
over.
A perennial herb probably
native to central Asia, garlic takes its English name from the Old
English word garleac. Note the spelling: Gar(“spear”)
refers to its spearlike leaves, and leac, also lick, meaning
“leek” or the sometimes used lac, meaning “plant.”
The Spanish call it ajo, the Italians named it aglio,
in German it’s Knoblauch, and the French say ail.
The Celts called it al, or “caustic” for its
strong, stingy flavor. Its botanical name is Allium sativum.
