Types of Garlic: The Best Garlic Variety For You!

Garlic has enchanted chefs and home cooks alike for centuries with its pungent aroma and distinctive flavor. This humble herb not only adds depth to dishes but also boasts a rich history and a surprising array of varieties.

If you’re like me, you love incorporating homegrown garlic into bread, fire cider, salsa, and the best Italian pasta sauce! So let’s discuss the different types of garlic, their special traits, and how to use them so you can take your cooking to the next level!

No Place Like A Home Garden

There is nothing quite like the taste of homegrown produce! The unique and complex flavors far surpass what you can find in the produce section of a grocery store.

That’s why I love helping people discover the best varieties for their kitchen and home garden. In addition to this guide to garlic varieties, you may enjoy learning about the types of corn, types of tomatoes, types of lettuce, and types of winter squash and summer squash.

I encourage you to learn how to grow garlic and when to harvest garlic so you can enjoy all the flavors available.

Unlocking the History of Garlic

Garlic's hardiness and adaptability made it a valuable crop for ancient civilizations. From its humble beginnings in Central Asia to its global presence today, garlic has become a culinary and cultural icon.

One of the earliest known references to garlic comes from the ancient Egyptians. Not only was garlic a dietary staple, but it also held mystical significance. Garlic bulbs were even found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun, a testament to its importance in their culture.

The Greeks and Romans embraced garlic not only for its culinary merits but also for its medicinal properties. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed garlic to treat various ailments. Soldiers in ancient Rome consumed garlic for strength and courage before going into battle.

In medieval Europe, garlic gained popularity as a versatile culinary ingredient. It was used to flavor soups, stews, and bread. Garlic's association with lower classes led to its exclusion from aristocratic cuisine, but it continued to thrive in the commoners' kitchens.

Garlic has traveled the world and left its mark on countless cuisines. It is a fundamental ingredient in dishes like stir-fries and curries in Asia. Mediterranean cuisines rely on garlic for the iconic flavors of pesto and tzatziki. In Latin America, garlic-infused sauces and marinades are essential to their culinary traditions.

The Types of Garlic

The world of garlic is far more diverse than most people realize. While there are hundreds of varieties, garlic can be categorized into two main types: softneck and hardneck garlic.

If you have ever harvested hardneck garlic, you probably noticed that the necks of the garlic were hard and sturdy, as the name suggests. It has a larger flavor profile and more robust flavor than softneck.

Softneck garlic varieties lack the central stalk found in hardneck types, making them more pliable for braiding. They also offer a longer shelf life!

Hardneck varieties are most commonly known for the garlic scapes and flowers they send off. The hardneck stems produce a central flower stalk, or scape, which can also be harvested and used in culinary dishes. Scapes are produced as the bulbs are beginning to form.

Mid-season, I go through and harvest the garlic scapes. This signals the plant to put its resources into growing large bulbs. We enjoy eating the scapes.

Here are some popular hardneck garlic varieties that you can easily grow at home:

• German Extra Hardy - Once it made its way onto our shores, this heirloom variety quickly became a must-grow all over the United States. It grows in most climates but is best suited to northern climates. Each bulb produces 4-6 large purple striped cloves, wrapped in bright ivory paper, that are very easy to peel!

• Russian Red Garlic - A robust, heirloom variety known for its strong flavor and excellent storage capability. This hardneck type produces large, purple-striped bulbs with 8-12 cloves each, offering a rich, spicy taste ideal for culinary use. The plants are hardy, thriving in cold climates and resistant to many common garlic diseases.

• Ukrainian Red Garlic - Known for its large, vibrant purple-red cloves, this heirloom garlic thrives in cooler climates and is a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike. Ukrainian Red garlic matures in mid-summer, offering a reliable and abundant harvest and it has excellent storage qualities.

• Spanish Roja Garlic - A renowned heirloom variety known for its robust, rich flavor and excellent culinary qualities. This compact hardneck type produces easy-to-peel cloves encased in beautiful reddish-purple skins. It thrives in colder climates and is highly valued for its reliable cold hardiness.

• Purple Glazer Garlic - This variety is visually striking and has a pleasant spiciness. Often enjoyed for its beauty and taste, it's a favorite among garlic enthusiasts to add flair to dishes.

• Chrysalis Purple Garlic - A captivating hardneck garlic variety with deep purple stripes on its bulbs. It offers a bold, spicy flavor with a hint of earthiness.

• Red Grain Garlic - A unique garlic variety known for its reddish-brown cloves and bold, spicy flavor. Its aromatic complexity makes it a favorite for adding depth to dishes.

• Chesnok Red Purple Stripe Garlic - These large bulbs produce 9-12 medium cloves that have a paper coating showing beautiful red stripes. With a rich, sweet flavor that holds its own through the cooking process, it is sure not to overpower your dish. This heirloom variety is known to store longer than many hardneck varieties, keeping its vitality all the way into the next spring!

• Metechi Garlic - Known to be one of the hottest garlic, this mid-season purple striped garlic has a sharp bite when raw. Highly productive in northern states with good size and yields.

• Music Garlic - This heirloom variety has weathered even the toughest winter conditions making it particularly suitable for the northern states, specifically in the Pacific Northwest Region as well as widely grown in most of Canada. Although hardneck garlic is not known for its storage capabilities, Music can maintain its vitality longer than most! This porcelain variety has a robust and pungent flavor and aroma.

• Ivan Garlic - Ivan is a Porcelain hard-neck garlic and one of the best multipurpose garlic. It is great for use in the kitchen, easy to peel with a hot flavor when raw and even sweeter flavor when cooked and roasted. This hardy variety is great for growing in the northern states and Canada, harvesting earlier than any other porcelain garlic.

• Duganski Garlic - Duganski is a must-grow favorite of ours. The cloves have a bold, fiery flavor that softens as it lingers on your taste buds. It can grow in most climates but really shines in the southern states!

• Amish Rocambole Garlic - Known to thrive after a harsh winter, this garlic has been grown in Wisconsin by the Amish for over 40 years. The large bulbs are packed with robust, medium/hot garlic flavor that will bring any dish to life.

• Persian Star Garlic - This heirloom variety is a garden favorite for its rich, sweet flavor that holds through the cooking process. It can be grown in both southern and northern states, and when cultivated well, it will yield a large harvest!

• Northern White Garlic - Originally from Northern Germany and known to be one of the most cold-hardy garlic varieties (documented to -18°F in Eastern Oregon!) This Porcelain garlic has 4-6 large cloves.

• German White Garlic - Known for its robust flavor and large, plump cloves, this hardneck garlic variety has a strong, spicy taste with a hint of sweetness. Its long storage life and adaptability make it a popular choice for culinary enthusiasts and gardeners alike.

• German Red Garlic - A robust and flavorful heirloom variety with a rich, spicy taste and easy-to-peel cloves. This hardneck type produces large, bulbous heads with 8-12 reddish-brown cloves encased in a purplish-white skin. German Red thrives in colder climates and is highly resistant to pests and diseases.

• Korean Red Garlic - Korean Red is well-suited for northern climates and tolerates harsh winters. It has excellent storage capabilities, bold flavor, and reliable cold-hardiness.

• Italian Red Garlic - Originating in California, the Italian red hardneck garlic is a very heat-tolerant variety that can be grown all around the country. Producing 4-6 large cloves, this garlic has a rich and complex taste. Porcelain garlic normally has a great shelf life, and the Italian Red's spice intensifies during storage!

You have probably bought softneck garlic at the store without realizing it. It's the most common garlic in the United States. People tend to like it because it lasts longer and tastes milder.

Most softneck garlic can be grown in both the northern and southern climates, producing a great harvest! Here are the best softneck garlic varieties for your home garden:

• Red Toch Garlic - Red Toch softneck garlic is a cherished heirloom variety known for its rich flavor and vibrant appearance. The flavor offers minimal heat to add a robust yet not overpowering taste, making it ideal for a wide range of dishes.

• Silverwhite Garlic - A captivating gem in the culinary world that showcases plump bulbs with a stunning silvery-white outer skin. It packs a flavorful punch with a mild yet complex taste and subtle sweetness.

• Nootka Rose Garlic - Originally cultivated in the San Juan Islands off of the Washington State coast, it is one of the longest storing heirloom garlic varieties! When stored properly, Nootka has surpassed a year of storage without losing its vitality or flavor! The paper of these cloves has a dark pink hue, close to a dusty rose, that will give way to a pristine white bulb.

• Inchelium Red Garlic - The deep red striped wrapping is easy to peel from the smooth white flesh of the garlic cloves. In the best growing conditions, the heads can mature up to 20 mid-flavored cloves tightly packed together. As the stem dries out, its strength and malleability make it perfect for braiding to store. Braided garlic lasts up to nine months in a cool, dark environment.

• Early Italian Garlic - This garlic variety produces, on average, 8-12 large cloves per bulb, with beautiful purple streaks at the base. Use it to infuse oils, cook in soups, or enjoy raw- the possibilities are endless. Known to store up to 10 months when cured properly.

• Lorz Garlic - This garlic was brought to Washington State's Columbia River Basin in the early 1900s by the Lorz family when they immigrated from Italy. It is known for being a favorite in Italian dishes. It is perfect for roasting with sweetness and a subtle heat!

Despite its name, elephant garlic is not garlic but a close relative. It is actually a type of leek that produces enormous bulbs with a mild garlic-like flavor.

You can use elephant garlic in the same way that you would use garlic. Some people prefer elephant garlic in dishes where raw garlic is traditionally used for a less-intense flavor.

• Elephant Garlic - Its size and ease of peeling make it ideal for roasting and sautéing. It imparts a subtle garlic essence, perfect for those who prefer a milder garlic taste in their dishes.

Now you are ready to pick out the best varieties for your family!