Thai Garlic - Tiny Cloves?!

[sonic_11uk]

I am used to working with much larger garlic cloves in the UK than what you find here.

Is it normal for the segments to be so tiny?

It's hard work peeling them!

[notmyself]

Normal. Not at strong so you need to use more too.

[AyG]

There's a range of types of garlic available here. Most common is the garlic imported from China. Its looks very similar to garlic in Europe, though the cloves are possibly a little harder, and the flavour isn't quite as strong in my opinion. The cloves aren't small, though. Because the Chinese garlic is cheaper than Thai garlic it's displaced Thai garlic to a significant extent.

Then there's Thai garlic traditionally used for cooking. The cloves are smaller, and quite hard.

Finally, there's Thai pickling garlic. Again, small cloves, and very hard.

For western food, the Chinese garlic is undoubtedly the best, and not difficult to peel. For Thai food, then use Thai garlic, and don't peel it - Thai people don't, they believe the oils in the skin add an extra sweetness to the food.

[TongueThaied]

Makro has the big garlic. Thais say the little Thai garlic is tastier, but I simply don;t have the patience for it, and I'm a garlic lover.

[Gonsalviz]

Do what the Thais do. Smash them and don't peel. Fried or boiled you can eat it all.

[whatchamacallit]

Yes it is normal.... They may be small, but the flavor is more intense! Personally I cannot be bothered peeling them.... Too much trouble! Gimme those big ones anytime... :-)

[Dancealot]

I let someone else peel the small gloves for me for me. I dont have the patience for that.

The small gloves taste a lot stronger then the chinese bigger gloves.

[nalaknarak]

yeah they're totally normal! I love them.

[leongarlic]

i am chiense but i like thai food.. i am also garlic grower in China.. hehe i export garlic too .. my skype ID: sinogarlic i want to make friends with you all

[kennedy]

I always have peeled garlic on hand. Peeled by my wife. Dam she' s handy.

[wayned]

Both the small and large cloves are available where I live. The small have a more intense flavor, but I use the large because I'm too lazy to peel the small.

[PTG]

Do what the Thais do. Smash them and don't peel. Fried or boiled you can eat it all.

I don't peel the small ones, just smash em. You can get big ones easily, I think they are all imported, that's what the Thai ladies say anyway

[kokesaat]

My wife swears by the tiny cloves......buys them at Makro where she can pick and choose the ones she wants.

Last time I had a bad earache, she peeled a clove, split it into fifths, smashed a fifth on the counter with a knive, then lapped up the juice with a small wad of cotton. Put it in my ear......yes it burned a bit....but the next day the earache was gone.

[NeverSure]

I grow my own garlic once I find one I like. Each clove will grow. I just have to remember which end is up as I break the cloves from the bulb, and plant twice as deep as the length of the clove. I use a bulb planter "drill bit" on my cordless drill to dig the holes and I'm golden. I actually bought that drill attachment for daffodils, but it works great for any bulb.

[meatboy]

My wife swears by the tiny cloves......buys them at Makro where she can pick and choose the ones she wants.

Last time I had a bad earache, she peeled a clove, split it into fifths, smashed a fifth on the counter with a knive, then lapped up the juice with a small wad of cotton. Put it in my ear......yes it burned a bit....but the next day the earache was gone.

25yrs ago i visited my wf's grandparents,i was always feeling weak and rundown the heat and humidity,her grandfather gave me a bottle of honey with them small garlic cloves in told me to take 2table-spoons twice a day with 1 clove of galic,did it work you bet talk about an aphrodisiac i soon doubled the dose