White garlic, learn everything about this species and its health benefits

It’s time for you to take a look at white garlic, learn everything about this species and its health benefits. Discover the main differences between white garlic and other types of garlic and what makes it special.

Did you already know that there are different types of garlic? In this post we are going to talk about the characteristics and benefits of white garlic.

Perhaps you had not given importance to the fact that there is garlic of different colors, and it might take you some time for you to choose garlic at random.

There is a lot to say about garlic, it, they help us season all kinds of dishes and they are also excellent allies for our health.

There are records that garlic was used by nomads and rebellious hunters, as well as by Alexander the Great’s soldiers from 320 B.C. and even by the Mongols led by Genghis Khan in 1200.

For them, it had multiple uses, among them, as a condiment for the preservation of meat and fish, which motivated them to distribute it from their home countries to other places.

The origin of garlic

It is said that garlic originates from Turkistan or Turkestan, a region of Central Asia that lies between the Caspian Sea and the Gobi Desert. It borders China, Afghanistan and Iran.

As the popularity of garlic grew, it expanded further and further from its place of origin. It arrived first to China, India, then extended to the east and north of Europe, until reaching America.

Over time, garlic has changed, diversifying into different types of garlic, as a result of the new lands and new forms of cultivation.

The first three groups of garlic were known as continental, asian and mediterranean, from which other varieties developed.

White garlic and its characteristics

Can you imagine where garlic has to travel from to get to our kitchens, tables and recipes these days?

You can recognize white garlic quite easily because it is the whiter than the rest of the garlic, it is also one of the most common along with purple garlic.

Surely you have seen it many times in stores and markets, white garlic has a regular flat head, with a bright white skin or yellowish white skin.

Sometimes white garlic can have violet lines in their peels, they belong to the group known as common garlic or noble garlic.

Its head can be medium or large and irregularly shaped, and it usually develops between 10 and 12 cloves or garlic bulbs.

What does white garlic taste like?

This type of garlic is characterized by having a mildly spicy flavor, it is not the most intense, but its not tenuous either, making it ideal for meals.

It has a very good gastronomic value, it is a type of garlic that you can’t forget among the condiments of your kitchen.

White garlic seasons meals well and adds the unique and delicious aroma of this particular type.

If you want a garlic that contains high nutritional levels but is not very spicy, such as reds or chestnuts, white garlic is great.

It is recommended to use it mainly to season white meats or in sauces to season all kinds of foods.

Facts you may not have known about white garlic

• There are several types of white garlic, yes, for example there is national white garlic, which is a variety of garlic which comes later than other species, as its harvest occurs in July.

• There is also white spring garlic, a variety from China, which is harvested earlier in spring, hence its name spring.

• Its inherent conservation is good, several months can pass and white garlic will still be preserved in good condition for consumption.

• If you keep your garlic in the fridge it will last longer, this means that its beneficial properties are kept in optimal conditions.

• They usually enter the market around the month of November, so you can get ready to buy them fresh and maintain them in your home in their freshly harvested state.

Nutritional properties of white garlic

Within the scale of nutraceutical or nutritive properties of different types of garlic, white garlic is well-known for its high nutrient content.

Therefore, you should choose it over pink, purple and violet garlic, as white garlic is the pearl that will keep your health shining.

White garlic is a rich source of antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals.

It contains a high concentration of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, phosphorus, selenium, niacin, manganese, iodine, iron, calcium, zinc and copper.

In the medical papyrus Codex Ebres from 1550 A.D., 22 different applications of garlic as treatments for various conditions were mentioned. Among those that it highlights are intestinal diseases, heart disease, poisonous animal bites, eradication of parasites, viruses, bacteria and even making tumors disappear.

Health benefits of white garlic

In addition to what we already mentioned, there are still more reasons why you should consume more white garlic.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, and other wise men like Aristotle, Homer and Herodotus recommended it to strengthen the immune system.

You, for example, could benefit from eating it on an empty stomach, when the body can absorb its properties more easily.

Eating a bulb or clove of garlic on an empty stomach can bring you the nutrients you need every day, and you can leave behind your old vitamin pills.

It also prevents you from a lot of diseases, for example, it helps to reduce blood pressure in an incredible way.

It cures and prevents illnesses like flus, colds, sore throats and earaches. Because of its high sulfur levels, it helps to detoxify the liver and the body in general.

If you have bad breath, dark circles under your eyes or dry skin, you’ll love this, because by detoxifying the liver, your bad breath, dark circles under your eyes and dry skin will disappear.

As small as it is, white garlic can help prevent, cure or control serious diseases such as diabetes, cancer, anemia, and Alzheimer’s among others.