Garlic offers many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and boosting immunity. Its usability is prevalent in cooking. It is considered a must-have for adding flavor to different recipes. Some people think it is nothing more than a specific flavor booster. This raises confusion and prompts a question: Is garlic a vegetable?
Although used as a spice or herb, garlic is still considered a vegetable. In this article, we will explore why garlic is often classified as a vegetable. You’ll also learn about its types and understand why it is sometimes confused with not being a vegetable. Let’s explore this question.
Is Garlic a Vegetable?
Yes, garlic is a vegetable and belongs to the Allium family, which is also known as the onion family. As per definition, plants whose parts are edible fall under the vegetable category. Garlic bulbs are harvested from the garlic plant. This bulb remains underground and is then taken out. Each bulk further consists of multiple cloves.
Cloves are covered with a layer and sheet. We remove those layers and use cloves in cooking. As the bulb is edible and part of the garlic plant, it falls into the category of vegetables. Since its bulb grows underground, garlic is classified as a root vegetable. Remember, the garlic plant has leaves, stems, and other parts, just like normal plants.
Why Do People Confuse Garlic as Not a Vegetable?
Several factors contribute to confusion about garlic’s classification. Some of those are as follows:
- Garlic is used in tiny amounts. On the other hand, vegetables are generally used in large quantities during cooking.
- Garlic is used to add flavor to the dishes. During cooking, this garlic does not remain visible. Moreover, we cannot directly eat garlic due to its pungent fragrance.
- Garlic is rarely eaten raw due to its pungent flavor. It is only useful when added to the dish for the taste. On the other hand, we can eat different vegetables, such as carrots or potatoes.
Due to all these reasons, people consider garlic merely a spice or herb—the real use of garlic to improve the taste and flavor of a dish during cooking. However, scientifically, garlic is considered a vegetable because it is derived from garlic plants.
Is Garlic a Herb or a Spice?
Yes, garlic is used to add flavor and enhance the taste of dishes. However, it is not purely herb or spice. Instead, it is still considered a vegetable according to the scientific definition. Remember, garlic is obtained from garlic plants and is a type of edible plant.
People use small amounts of garlic in cooking as a spice. This small amount adds flavor to the dish. Some people consider food incomplete if it does not have garlic as a spice. For the kitchen, you can categorize it as a spice and place it in a culinary classification. However, it does not fall in the spice or herbs category and is a popular vegetable.
Is Garlic a Fruit or Vegetable?
Garlic is no fruit and is a vegetable belonging to the onion family. As per scientific definition, fruit always comes from the flowering parts of the plants.
On the other hand, the garlic is not harvested from the flowering parts. Instead, it is developed from the roots of the garlic plants. Due to this, garlic does not fall in the fruit category. Moreover, another logic that garlic is not a fruit is that it does not contain seeds. On the other hand, fruits always contain seeds.
Garlic Varieties (Types) & Their Status
Generally, there are two primary varieties of garlic. Both of these types fall under the category of root vegetables. Their names are as follows:
- Softneck garlic
- Hardneck garlic
As the name suggests, softneck garlic has a softer stem and less pungent flavor. The bulb of this type of garlic consists of multiple cloves, but they are small in size. Moreover, their overall quality is superior and can be stored for extended periods of use. On the other hand, the hardneck garlic has rigid or stiff stems and is more pungent.
Unlike softneck garlic, this type has a bulb with a small number of cloves. However, the size of these cloves is bigger than those in softneck garlic. One thing I dislike about this type is that it cannot be stored for a long duration. They start to deteriorate over time, which is a significant drawback for farmers.
Conclusion
In summary, garlic is not a spice or herb. Although it is used as a spice, it is still classified as a member of the onion family. According to science, anything obtained from a plant that is edible falls under the category of vegetables. The garlic plant is very popular, and its bulb remains underground.
Inside the bulb, there are many cloves. These cloves are used during cooking and can be edible as well. As the garlic itself is obtained from the garlic plant, it is referred to as the vegetable. How it is used as an herb or spice has nothing to do with its status as a vegetable. So, if you’re vegetarian, you can eat anything that has garlic in it.