Mankind has known garlic, as well as its beneficial properties, since ancient times. We have actively used it in cooking for hundreds, no, for thousands of years. People have long paid attention to its features, and came to the conclusion that a plant that copes with diseases so well probably also has a different strength. Therefore, garlic got the “ability” to deal with various evil spirits. Interestingly, this superstition arose in many different cultures of past times independently of each other.
Fascinating Garlic Facts
From the point of view of botany, this strong-flavored plant is a relative of onions. In this common strong-flavored plant, not only rhizomes are edible, but also leaves and inflorescences, although they are not so actively used in food.
Genetically ordinary bulbous herb is indistinguishable from wild-growing spiky onions, from which it originated during evolutionary processes.
Garlic comes from Central Asia. The researchers found out that for the first time, people began to cultivate this useful plant in the territory of modern Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Moreover, it was here that garlic found a very unusual use: this plant scared away evil spirits at a funeral
Perhaps, this tradition moved to European countries exactly from China. Here, in the Middle Ages, the strong-flavored plant scared away demons, vampires, and other evil spirits.
But before being in Europe, this vegetable was popular in ancient India and Egypt. From these countries, it began to move north, having appeared into Greece, Spain and Italy.
Historians have found that in the wild, garlic grew in church yards in England, and many people wore garlic necklaces around their neck, believing that such an accessory would scare away evil spirits and troubles.
In England, this aromatic plant came in 1548. It got here from the Mediterranean.
Depending on the type of garlic in its bulb, there may be from 2 to 50 cloves.
Breeders brought the strong-flavored plant with a whole bulb, which does not have separate segments.
The stalks of garlic can reach one and a half meters in height
In the French province of Gascony, a traditional garlic soup the so-called “Touraine” is very popular. A rather peculiar dish, it should be noted.
Officially, garlic is not included in the list of medicinal plants, but it is used very widely in folk medicine.
Garlic is super popular in China, Korea, and Italy. In these three countries, on average a person eats about 10 cloves of garlic daily.
In ancient India, garlic was actively used as a medicinal plant, but because of the pungent odor it was not used as food.
Scientists discovered that garlic contained antibiotics back in the 19th century.
This plant is quite toxic for cats and dogs, and therefore dangerous
Atharva Veda, an ancient Indian book, one of the oldest in the world in general, mentions this terrific herb as a cure for diseases and demons.
In 2009, there was an epidemic of swine flu in China. Therefore, because of rumors that this bulbous herb helps to cope with this dangerous disease, prices for it increased 40 times during the year due to the multiply increased demand.
The unofficial title of the garlic capital of the world is the Spanish city of Las Pedronieras.
This plant can kill many pathogenic bacteria
Garlic in ancient times
The cultivation of garlic began about 5 thousand years ago.
In ancient times, people believed that evil spirits dreaded the smell of garlic. That is why garlands with this dried plant became a talisman in many houses.
People in ancient Rome necessarily included this bulbous herb in the diet of warriors, not only for health, but also because they believed that it gave courage and masculinity.
In 1720, the aromatic bulb entered the history of mankind as its savior, in the literal sense of the word. Thanks to garlic, France was saved. This strong-flavored plant mixed with vinegar saved the French from the raging plague that could spread around the world and destroy many people. As with the help of garlic, healers were able to prevent the spread of plague in Marseille. There were no other medicines at that time. Since then, people began to honor garlic throughout France. Moreover, the capital of garlic, the town of Saint-Clair, even appeared in this fantastic country.
The name of the American city of Chicago, translated from one of the Indian languages, means “wild garlic”
The aromatic bulb is a natural antibiotic, it strengthens the immune system and thins the blood.
This strong-flavored plant contains more than 100 chemically active elements
People in ancient Egypt included this bulbous herb in the diet of workers who did a hard work. For example, for whose who were responsible for the construction of pyramids, as it was very important to maintain and increase the strength of workers. Once, about 1600 BC. e., an uprising broke out there, when workers in the construction of the pyramids did not receive the strong-flavored plant.
Scientists found this strong-flavored plant in sarcophagi with closed eyes and in the internal cavities of Egyptian mummies. Perhaps the aromatic bulb entered had a ritual significance.
This bulbous and aromatic herb is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins necessary to maintain the body in a healthy condition. Its heads are one of the richest sources of potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and selenium.
Scientists have proven that people who consume more garlic are less susceptible to heart disease
In Japan and Korea, the so-called “black garlic” is a popular treat. It turns out if the bulbs are fermented at high temperatures. It really has a black color and has a sweet taste.
