Garlic is one of the most common ingredients used in various cuisines worldwide. Its pungent smell and unique taste are renowned globally. But have you ever wondered what category it falls under, vegetable or herb? Well, wonder no more, because in this blog post, we will dive deep into the world of garlic to find out whether it’s a vegetable or an herb.
Vegetables vs Herbs
To understand the answer to this dilemma, we need to first define those two terms.
A vegetable is any part of a plant that is harvested for food. These parts may include leaves, flowers, or the roots, among others.
An herb, on the other hand, is defined as any plant used for food, flavoring, medicine, or perfume.
So, how should we classify garlic?
Garlic: Vegetable or an Herb?
Garlic’s characteristics can lead to understandable confusion (and even debate) about its classification.
Its flavor and aroma make it a unique ingredient that is commonly used as a spice or seasoning. This feature is a primary characteristic of herbs.
However, from a botanic standpoint garlic is considered a vegetable because it is an edible bulb from the Allium plant. This bulb is made up of several cloves that are encased in a paper-like skin.
The garlic plant also produces a flower and seeds, but these are not typically eaten. Instead, it’s the bulb (or head) of garlic that we consume, which categorizes it as a vegetable in botanical terms.
Wrapping It Up
Garlic classification might be confusing, but from a botanical standpoint it’s a vegetable.
While garlic may be used in a way that is similar to herbs, it falls within the camp of veggies, since garlic is a part of a plant, and that constitutes the very definition of vegetables.
Debates aside, garlic is still a flavorful and aromatic ingredient that can be used in numerous ways and provide several health benefits. Whether it’s a vegetable, an herb, or both, we can all agree that garlic is essential in cooking and offers numerous health benefits for our overall wellbeing.
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