Taicang White Garlic

Taicang White Garlic

　　Taicang is located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province, bordering the Yangtze River to the northeast and adjacent to Shanghai. The area features loose, fertile soil, a warm climate, and abundant rainfall—ideal conditions for growing white garlic. The cultivation of white garlic in Taicang began during the Qing Dynasty. Over time, local farmers have accumulated extensive experience in cultivation, continuously improving both the yield and quality of the garlic. Varieties: After 1978, the high-yield, high-quality "Taicang White Garlic" purebred variety was developed. It is characterized by large cloves, fewer segments, smooth and round shape, a strong spicy flavor, and antibacterial properties. This type of garlic is resistant to fertilizers, lodging, and disease, with pure white bulbs.

　　"Taicang White Garlic" is renowned alongside Shanghai Jiading White Garlic, Shandong Cangshan White Garlic, and Xinjiang White Garlic, collectively known as China’s four major varieties of white garlic.

　　Taicang is located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province, bordering the Yangtze River to the northeast and adjacent to Shanghai. The area features loose, fertile soil, a warm climate, and abundant rainfall—ideal conditions for growing white garlic. Taicang White Garlic has been cultivated since the Qing Dynasty. Due to the suitability of Taicang’s soil for garlic cultivation and export demands, large-scale planting began in the 1960s.

　　Taicang White Garlic is a superior local variety developed through the purification and propagation of traditional farmer cultivars. It has been recommended by the National Agricultural Society as a high-quality agricultural product and enjoys popularity among domestic and international buyers. The current planting area remains stable at around 30,000 mu. As a versatile variety used for both greens, scapes, and bulbs, it boasts excellent yield potential. Individual plants weigh about 100 grams on average, with bulbs averaging 25–30 grams and scapes around 25–28 grams. On a large scale, yields reach approximately 300–350 kilograms of scapes and 550–700 kilograms of bulbs per mu. Taicang White Garlic produces high yields of tender, flavorful green garlic; its scapes are fresh, tender, and strongly flavored; and the bulbs are large, round, and pure white with evenly sized cloves, typically 6–9 per bulb. The garlic has a long dormancy period, making it less prone to premature sprouting and allowing for an extended supply period. It is one of China’s main export varieties of garlic, primarily shipped to Southeast Asia, and also a leading variety for garlic seed exports. Since 1982, the Taicang Seed Company has supplied nearly 5,000 tons of seed garlic to Japan over 19 consecutive years.

　　Currently, Taicang White Garlic is exported to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Japan, and Hong Kong.