Laba garlic

Laba garlic

　　Soaking Laba garlic is a traditional Han Chinese snack mainly popular in northern China, especially in the North China region, and is a customary food for the Laba Festival. The garlic is soaked on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. In fact, the ingredients are very simple—just vinegar and garlic cloves. The method is also extremely easy: peel the garlic cloves, place them in a sealed container such as a jar or bottle, pour in the vinegar, seal the lid, and then place it in a cool spot. Gradually, the garlic soaked in vinegar will turn green, eventually becoming entirely emerald green, like jade or jadeite. As soon as the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month arrives in northern China, the festive atmosphere of the New Year becomes stronger with each passing day. In most parts of North China, there is a custom of soaking garlic in vinegar on this day, known as Laba garlic.