Black Garlic- الثوم الاسود

About

Black Garlic is the latest gourmet ingredient making a buzz in culinary circles. Whole heads of garlic are aged for 1 month in a special high-heat fermentation process. The aged garlic turns a rich black color with a soft, chewy texture and a subtle, sweet-savory taste.

While it is 100%% garlic, Black Garlic doesn’t really taste like garlic at all. It has a mouthwatering sweet and savory flavor that some compare to molasses, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or even licorice. While every palate is different, it can be said that Black Garlic possesses characteristics of “umami” – a term used to describe the fifth human taste, for meaty and savory foods.

No additives, sodium or preservatives are used in the fermentation process. Just pure garlic!

With all that flavor, you might think Black Garlic would be overpowering, but the truth is, it is subtle enough to eat straight, but intense enough to add a pop of palate-pleasing savory-sweet flavor to many simple dishes, from fish and poultry to pasta and appetizers. Enjoy as a snack, slice and add to salads or use to top a variety of dishes from pasta to steak to fish. May also be pureed and drizzled on top of dishes like potato salad or pizza.

Everyone’s talking about Black Garlic these days, perhaps because it’s a flavor so new, yet so accessible. Give it a taste and come up with your own definition!

Available for purchase through a online retailers and select grocery stores across U.S.A.
* Frieda's Inc. www.friedas.com

Also now available in Malaysia
* RPH Marketing www.blackgarlicmalaysia.com

Information

Other names: Aged Garlic, Aged Black Garlic, 40-Day Fermented Garlic, Fermented Garlic

Translations: Black Ķiploki, Juodosios Česnakus, Negru Usturoi, Crno češnjak, Black Tỏi, Czosnek czarny, Zwarte Knoflook, काले लहसुन, Black Alho, Черный чеснок, Black Σκόρδα, أسود ثوم, 검은 마늘, Černá Česnek, Бели лук црно, Black Bawang, 黑大蒜, L'all negre, Black Česen, Čierna Cesnak, Black Aglio, שחור שום, Svart Vitlök, Bawang putih hitam, 黒にんにく, Black ail, Black Hvidløg, Svart Hvitløk, El ajo negro, Чорний часник, Musta Valkosipuli, Черно Чесън

Physical Description

It looks like ordinary garlic cloves, but black. You can buy it in whole bulbs, as peeled cloves, or as a jelly-like puree.

Colors: black

Tasting Notes

Flavors: Sweet, Umami, Tangy

Mouthfeel: Chewy, Tacky, Something like dried fruit

Food complements: Meat, Poultry, Fish, Vegetables, Fruit, Chocolate

Substitutes: Roasted garlic

Selecting and Buying

Buying: It is not yet available in all supermarkets. Although its popularity and availability is growing, in most areas, the only way to find it is via the internet.

Procuring: It begins as ordinary garlic, but the fermentation process, which takes three weeks of near constant monitoring, is something best left to others.

Preparation and Use

Cleaning: Simply peel it the way you would a non-fermented garlic clove.

Social/Political

History: Many people think it's a traditional ingredient in asian cuisines, but the truth is, fermented garlic is a quite recent innovation. It was first introduced to the world in 2005, by a Japanese researcher.