Here’s a guide to the basic varieties and a list of medal-winning garlic so you can start to experiment with the different flavors in your cooking.
Most Australian garlics belong to one of these garlic groups. Each group has its own flavour characteristics when raw, sautéed or roasted and varying heat and flavour intensity.
SUBTROPICAL
Subtropical garlic is sweet. Sautéed to crisp it is aromatic with a sweetly pleasant simple garlicky flavor and baked it has a richly sweet garlic flavor.
TURBAN
Hardneck Australian garlic tends to have more of a stronger, richer and sweeter flavour than their soft-neck cousins. You can use it in a range of sautéed dishes however it's best when crisply fried providing a nutty flavour.
ASIATIC
Great for salsa’s, Asiatic garlic is spicy hot in its raw form, rivalling the heat of creoles.
ARTICHOKE
If you want to eat or use garlic raw or lightly cooked, you'll probably head for a softneck variety – Artichoke or Silverstein. The most versatile of Australian garlic with simple, direct, vegetative flavours, mild to hot, Artichoke Group garlic lends itself to a range of cooking methods. When sautéed till crisp has delicious mild garlic flavor and roasted it has a mild, sweet earthy flavor which maintains its shape.
CREOLE
Cultivars with the hottest heat belong to the Creole group. Creole garlics are rarely seen in cold climates, so if you see these raw, it is rich, complex and long-lasting in flavor. When sautéed gently, creole garlic creates a beautiful garlic explosion often with a nutty flavor. Roasted it loses heat and is lovely and mellow, with caramel flavours.
GLAZED PURPLE STRIPE
Sauteed, it has a good rich garlic flavor with that great garlic aroma that we love. Roasted, the cloves become gooey.
PORCELAIN
Great for sautéing, the intense heat and flavor of its massive cloves softens to a pleasurable garlic richness. Also well suited to roasting as it retains its structure and flavours.
ROCAMBOLE
To maintain its complex flavours described as floral, earthy and creamy, Rocambole garlic is best sautéed gently.
MARBLED SILVERSKIN PURPLE STRIPE
The flavours rival those of Rocambole Group, with deep, rich and often spicy flavours. Sauteed till crisp it has a delicious, rich garlic flavour. Garlic from this group is also good for roasting as it maintains its structure and caramelised flavours.
STANDARD PURPLE STRIPE
One of the best for roasting, Standard Purple Stripe garlic develop a creamy nutty, complex garlicky flavour.
SILVERSKIN
This softneck garlic is often found on supermarket shelves due to its long storage life. Roasted, it will hold its flavor well. Sautéed till crisp, it has a delicious strong garlicky flavor and less heat than when raw.
Medal-winning garlic varieties to look out for
The Australian Food Awards sprang into action last month in Melbourne with the judging and announcement of the best garlics.
Judges meticulously inspected bulbs, peeled skins, tasted cloves and conversed for hours about the competition garlic on the table and the 2019 results are in.
Keep your eyes peeled for the following varieties online and at a farmers market near you:
Victoria
Best in Class Garlic
Dunganski
Wildes Lane, Moyston
Gold Medal
Mariposa de la Tierra
Wildes Lane, Moyston
Tarrawingee Garlic
Tarrawingee Garlic, Tarrawingee
Silver Medal
Cottonwoods Organic Garlic
BM & SLA Gaskin, Milawa
Italian Red
Kucina Estate Garlic, Ballarat
Lokalen
Wildes Lane, Moyston
Rojo de Castro
Mirboo Farm, South Gippsland
Spanish Roja
Wildes Lane, Moyston
Wilde Pearl
Wildes Lane, Moyston
Australian White
Boundary Creek Garlic, Upper Gundowring
Bronze Medal
Garlic
Hilltop Garlic, Mirboo North
Italian Purple
Boundary Creek Garlic
Spanish Roja
Mirboo Farm
Garlic
Yarra Glen Garlic, Yarra Glen
South Australia
Gold Medal
Fleurieu Red
Fleurieu Garlic, Willunga
Silver Medal
Rojo del Pais Baza
Fleurieu Garlic, Willunga
Bronze Medal
Garlic
Wigley Crossing Produce, Barmera
Western Australia
Silver Medal
Coastwinds Farm Purple Stripe
Coastwinds Pty Ltd, Mosman Park
New South Wales
Silver Medal
Boutique Garlic
Springside Produce and Apiaries (Trading As: Boutique Garlic), Orange
Monaro Purple Garlic
Snug Farm, Oberon
Valley View Farm & Co. Garlic
Valley View Farm & Co., Rainbow Flat
Bronze Medal
Cedar Creek Monaro Purple
Hunter Valley Produce, Wollombi
Moora Garlic
Agrico Produce, Hillston
Queensland
Silver Medal
Ten Acres Garlic
Ten Acres, Ninderry
JustAus Garlic
JustAus Garlic, Brooklands
The best organic garlic can be found in Tasmania
Silver Medal
Flinders Island Purple Garlic
MA & SM Pitchford