The History of Garlic

Common Name: Garlic

Species: Bulbous

Family of: Allium

Garlic is believed to be a native of central Asia, South Asia or Southwest Siberia.

All told, worldwide there are over 2.5 million acres of garlic cultivations with China cultivating 75 percent of all garlic.

For more than 5,000 years, garlic has been used as a food, medicine, an aphrodisiac, money and magic potions. Garlic has been known to ward off evil eyes, was hung over doors to protect medieval occupants from the evil, give strength and courage to the Greek athletes and warriors, protect maidens and pregnant ladies from evil nymphs, and was rubbed on door frames to keep out bloodthirsty vampires.

Garlic clove pendants hung around the necks to protect you from the sharp horns of a bull, warded off local witches, kept away the black plague, and even prevented others from passing you in a race.

The pungent herb is one of the oldest cultivated plants. This was worshiped by the Egyptians as a God and used as a local currency.

Clay garlic bulbs were placed in the Egyptian tombs with the dearly departed. Archaeologists are unsure whether the clay bulbs are intended as funds for the afterlife or as idols to please the gods.

In addition, garlic was used to pay and feed workers and slaves on the great pyramids. The bulbs were so popular with those who toiled on the pyramids that garlic shortages caused work stoppages.

A godly crop failure, due to the Nile flooding, caused one of the only two recorded Egyptian slave revolts.

Despite its reputation for warding off evil and uses as a medicinal herb, garlic was considered too coarse and common for the refined pallets of the upper class.

Only the lower-class could fill their bellies with garlic; it would upset the delicate constitutions of the rich and powerful.

Egyptian priests worshiped garlic but avoided cooking and eating fragrant cloves. Other cultures also deemed garlic too pungent for religious institutions Greeks wishing to enter the temple of Cybele had to pass a garlic breath test.

Those who partook of garlic were not allowed entry. In ancient India the upper crust denied themselves the pleasure of the pungent herb because of its strong smell in association with commoners. Likewise, knights reeking of garlic in King Alfonso de Castille court were cast out of polite society for a week.

Garlic was both celebrated and consumed by the belief that it could inflame the passions. At times it was forbidden for Tibetan monks, widows, and adolescents to consume the stimulant herb. Chinese doctors prescribed garlic for men with impotency problems.

Grooms placed cloves of garlic in their buttonholes to ensure a happy honeymoon. Unfaithful Egyptian husbands chewed garlic on their way home from their mistresses to hide the scent of another woman.

Tenderloin Bruschotti

1 pound beef tenderloin

garlic powder

116 elements both garlic and Asiago bread, cut into 16 slices

olive oil cooking spray

two medium tomatoes, thinly sliced, slices cut in half

1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped

4 ounces blue cheese crumbles

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Sprinkle Garlic powder and salt over roast and place roast on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast in a preheated 425 F oven until interior temperature reaches 135 F. season with salt to taste and tent loosely with foil allow to set 10 to 15 minutes temperature will continue to rise to 145F.

Slice roast very thin. Meanwhile lightly spray bread with cooking spray place on a baking sheet and bake 5 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut each slice in half and set aside. Place tomato slices on the bread, sprinkle with salt-and-pepper, top with beef slices, basil and blue cheese.

Drizzle with the balsamic vinegar.