sbk Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I am currently visiting the family back home and find the larger garlic here pretty tasteless. Just not as garlicky as the garlic back in thailand. Does anyone know what the variety is called that is used in Thailand (in english, obviously). The garlic here isn't elephant garlic, but it is larger and thicker skinned than the garlic in Thailand. And just not garlicky enough to cook with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt1591 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 With garlic, in general, the larger cloves are less pungent. Find smaller bulbs. I don't believe Thai garlic is special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 Actually, I believe Thai garlic is a different variety. The clovers are smaller, the skin is considerably thinner and the taste more pungent. A search of seed and bulb businesses does show there is a garlic variety called "Thai" http://www.garlicfarm.ca/artichoke-garlic.htm http://www.garlicfarm.ca/garlic-varieties.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harcourt Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I don't know where "back home" is.....but here in NZ in recent years they have started importing garlic from China. It is thicker skinned and much milder than the locally grown variety....and the Chinese garlic is about one quarter the cost of the local garlic, hence it is in every shop now. I know what you mean about it being almost tasteless. A chef pointed out to me that the Chinese imports do not have the frill of dry roots at the bottom of the clove....they are harvested much closer to the bulb....so, price and the appearance (or not) of the roots maybe the things you should look for when buying garlic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suegha Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 If the garlic is milder just use lots more! Any excuse... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chung noi Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Hi, Maybe you can look at farmer's markets or health food stores and ask if the have any wild garlic. I think that Thai garlic is a purple skinned hard neck type. Maybe an Itailan import foods store might have a differant type of garlic. Here in the USA we find many Asian veggys at the farmer's markets. Many Homong are moving to our area and they all seem to grow a garden to sell produce. Good luck *j* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suegha Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I have just had a thought, why not grow your own? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 I am only here for a few months suegha. By the time the garlic was ready to be harvested, I would be back in Thailand already But, I did buy some bird pepper plants for my brother-in-law, he loves the super spicy food. I bring him curry paste every year too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sourdough Al Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I just plant a lot of garlic cloves out in the flower garden and in spaces not used for other things. The garlic bulb are much smaller and more tasty than the grocery store garlic (imported from China) here in the US. I guess that for garlic, 'suffering builds character' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samesamebutdifferent Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 when I had my wife over in London, I did notice she favoured the purple skinned variety of garlic, being similiar in looks at least to what she was used to. Then she discovered China town and the numerous thai shops/warehouses. then there was'nt any problem. I would definitely say the Thai garlic is a different variety to the European/American one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suegha Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I am only here for a few months suegha. By the time the garlic was ready to be harvested, I would be back in Thailand already But, I did buy some bird pepper plants for my brother-in-law, he loves the super spicy food. I bring him curry paste every year too. Do you grow your own back in Thailand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted July 25, 2009 Author Share Posted July 25, 2009 No, buy it at the market like everyone else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suegha Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Grow it and discover the full uses of Garlic. You can pick it younger and stronger, you can use the greenery in salads - loads of other uses, go on, have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiliwasabi Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 We have many styles of garlic in Australia. Unfortunately most of it comes from china but if you look around you can find the better stuff (I prefer the Thai style too). I find that Thai garlic is actually less garlicky but I like the fact you can eat the cloves whole and not regret it later. Apparently in much of Thailand the Garlic sold is now a mixture of locally grown and Chinese grown. I might have a go at growing my own (but I'll have to clear out the dead chilli & lemongrass plants first ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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