If you live in China, Germany or Northern Europe, you’re probably wondering why you’re reading about a vegetable you regularly see at your local supermarket, but the fact is that most of the world is oblivious to the existence of “solo garlic.” Solo garlic is a garlic bulb that consists of a single clove, instead of about a dozen or so. All you have to do is peel the outer skin and you’re left with one giant clove you can mince, grate, or just use whole. It turns out that solo garlic can be obtained from any variety of garlic, as long as certain environmental conditions are met. Too-warm temperatures during the early stages of growth can prevent garlic from developing into multiple cloves, resulting in one giant clove. How does solo garlic taste compared to regular garlic? Some claim it’s milder, but the main advantage of single-clove garlic over the conventional variety is the ease of peeling. China remains the largest producer of solo and regular garlic in the world.
