Emei Mountain Single-Clove Garlic

Emei Mountain Single-Clove Garlic

　　Emei Mountain Single-Clove Garlic is a famous specialty of Leshan City, Sichuan Province. Leshan has a long history of garlic cultivation and has long been known as the “Spirit Grass of Nine Leaves from Three Rivers.” The main producing areas of Emei Mountain Single-Clove Garlic are at the foothills of Mount Emei and the surrounding regions, where the garlic sprouts, garlic scapes, and garlic bulbs (heads) are of the highest quality.

　　Emei Mountain Single-Clove Garlic is irrigated with spring water from Mount Emei. The land here is fertile, and livestock manure is used as fertilizer without any chemical fertilizers, giving it excellent resistance to pests and diseases and eliminating the need for pesticides. This ensures its purely natural characteristics. Coupled with Mount Emei’s unique climate, which is most suitable for the growth of single-clove garlic, it forms the qualities of large size, thick flesh, being purely natural, and pollution-free. Dyv

　　Single-clove garlic is a variety of garlic, a biennial perennial herbaceous cultivated plant belonging to the Liliaceae family of the Allium genus, and is classified as an aromatic vegetable. Its leaves are narrow, long, and flat, with a relatively small and upright leaf surface. When young, the layers are wrapped in a false stem that is light green and thick. As it grows, the number of leaves gradually increases, and the leaf tips also thicken, appearing light green with a waxy powder-like surface. The flower stem that grows from the center of the stem is commonly called the “garlic scape.” At the top of the scape is a flower cluster, and the flowers form small bulbs called “garlic beads,” which can be used for propagation. The underground bulb, called the “garlic head,” is covered with a grayish-white membrane, inside of which are several small cloves, known as “garlic segments,” which are the main edible part. The characteristic of Emei Mountain “single-clove garlic” is that it has only one clove per bulb—large in size, white in color, thick-fleshed, and often with a purplish-blue skin covering the segments, which distinguishes it from single-clove garlic produced in other regions. Dyv

　　All parts of the single-clove garlic plant can be consumed during its growth. Its garlic sprouts and scapes stir-fried with cured meat or braised pork are considered delicacies at banquets. The garlic head (also called the garlic bulb) can be processed into sweet garlic using a candied method, turned into fermented garlic when pickled in sauce, or made into salty or sour garlic when preserved in brine. Garlic bulbs contain allicin and can be used medicinally. They help dispel cold and dampness, kill parasites, and detoxify. “Erya Zhengyi” states: “The Emperor ascended Mount Song and was poisoned by taro, nearly dying, but was saved by chewing and eating garlic.” Garlic leaves are a key herb for treating insect poisoning. Li Yanshou’s “Book of Southern History” records: “Li Daonian had been ill for five years. Wu Commandery Governor Chu Cheng diagnosed him and said: ‘It is neither cold nor heat, but likely due to excessive consumption of boiled chicken eggs. Boil one liter of garlic and have him eat it—he will vomit something wrapped in mucus, and upon inspection, it will be a chick with complete wings and feet.’ Chu Cheng added: ‘It’s not all out yet.’ After more vomiting, twelve pieces were expelled and he recovered.” Fan Ye’s “Book of the Later Han · Biographies of Eccentrics” says: “Hua Tuo once encountered someone suffering from a blocked throat while traveling. He told the person: ‘There is a pancake vendor nearby selling extremely sour garlic paste (referred to as garlic relish in both the Records of the Three Kingdoms and Compendium of Materia Medica). Drink three liters of it, and your illness will be cured.’ The person did as Hua Tuo said and immediately vomited out a snake.” Also, Xia Ziyi’s “Treatise on Rare Diseases” states: “If someone’s head or face glows and others feel intense heat when touching it, this is a sign of being bewitched. Take half a liang of garlic juice mixed with wine, and it will induce vomiting of something snake-like.” Dyv