Mystery Garlic Cloves

What, exactly, are these?


I was no sooner off the plane in Portugal, after 20+ hours of travelling, when I found myself begging my mother and sister, to let me accompany them to the local supermarket [Modelo] instead of taking the catnap they suggested I needed.

I was a little spaced out, what with the jet-lag and all, but something unusual caught my eye and I dropped it in the trolley for further investigation. I thought I had discovered some kind of interesting garlic type indigenous to Portugal, but when we arrived back at the villa and I studied the carton more carefully, I realised (if my translation abilities are to be trusted), that these little weirdos had come all the way from China.

Uh-oh, I hope they aren't genetically modified or something unnatural like that?

I used these orbical self-contained garlic cloves to flavour salad dressings and marinade meats over the next few days, finding the results to be much the same as a regular garlic clove for the main part. Except, they are a little easier to peel and they look kind of cute...




?Have you ever seen such a thing? Perhaps they are common-place in your neck of the woods? If you know anything more about them, please can you share?

Archives
2007 | Lettuce & Lovage Soup
2006 | Thank Goodness for the French
2005 | End of the Month Eggs on Toast


© 2008 Sam Breach

Mystery Garlic Cloves