Nature’s Wonder Drug

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April 19th is National Garlic Day. The pungent bulb is definitely one of my favourite ingredients for savory dishes and is always close to hand while cooking, stored on the window sill in one of my garlic pots. I have enjoyed making these jars with holes for as long as I’ve been making pots. Garlic pots are available from the kitchen pottery shop in two sizes. Dark and airy storage for either two or four bulbs.

Recorded use of garlic dates back 6000 years, originating in central Asia. It was loved by all the ancient civilizations; Egyptians, Greeks and the Romans. Today it is a staple of most global cuisine.

A close relative of onions, shallots, leeks, chives and rakkyo. Not only for the kitchen, garlic is sometimes called nature’s wonder drug. Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and amino acids – its medicinal properties include; extending human longevity, preventing certain cancers, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, resiting the common cold and combating fatigue.

It has also been nick-named the stinking rose – being a cause of bad breath, though paradoxically it has long been admired for its powers as an aphrodisiac. It is of course famously useful for warding off vampires!

Why not celebrate National Garlic Day with me. Peel a couple of cloves and slip them into your dinner tonight, with such a bounty of benefits can you resist? I’ve started already – yesterday’s lunch was roasted garlic and sweet potato soup.