Produce Briefs...
Maui Onions
Two characteristics set the Maui onion apart from other yellow onions: the high sugar and high moisture content of its flesh.
Fingerling Russian Banana Potatoes
Although very petit in size, fingerlings are fully mature when harvested, thus they should not to be confused with new potatoes, potatoes that are harvested when immature.
Seasons/Availability
Black garlic is available year around.
Current Facts
Black garlic is not a garlic variety, rather garlic in an aged state. Because garlic contains sugars and amino acids, when garlic undergoes fermentation, these elements produce melanoidin, a dark-colored substance that is responsible for the color of black garlic. The garlic is placed in extreme heat within a fermentation process lasting one month. It is then cooled and dried for another week. Sources say the process may be patented in some cases, which includes the use of specially designed machines and environmetally controlled temperatures.
Description/Taste
Black garlic has the immediate appearance of an aged, almost burnt garlic bulb, its cloves loosely held within its indented browned outer wrapper. Inside a black garlic bulb's wrapper of aged paper-thin skin are opal black cloves with the jellied texture of fresh dried fruit. The individual cloves have a savory sweet taste, a pleasant molasses undertone with a subtle hint of a soy sauce creating a flavor of umami.
Applications
Black garlic makes great purees and sauces that lend rich flavor to pizzas, potatoes, pastas and rice. It pairs well with mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese and pork.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Black garlic is unrelated to the ornamental plant Allium nigrum nor a genetically unique six-clove garlic also called black garlic.
Geography/History
Black garlic is a relatively newer form of garlic within the commercial market. Original fermentation methods included keeping the garlic in earthenware containers in caves or other cool areas for a few months. Some techniques air dry the garlic about forty days over aged soy sauce, which explains the soy sauce taste. Black garlic is produced in Japan, China, Korea and California.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Black Garlic. One
is easiest, three is harder.
Black garlic is available year around.
Current Facts
Black garlic is not a garlic variety, rather garlic in an aged state. Because garlic contains sugars and amino acids, when garlic undergoes fermentation, these elements produce melanoidin, a dark-colored substance that is responsible for the color of black garlic. The garlic is placed in extreme heat within a fermentation process lasting one month. It is then cooled and dried for another week. Sources say the process may be patented in some cases, which includes the use of specially designed machines and environmetally controlled temperatures.
Description/Taste
Black garlic has the immediate appearance of an aged, almost burnt garlic bulb, its cloves loosely held within its indented browned outer wrapper. Inside a black garlic bulb's wrapper of aged paper-thin skin are opal black cloves with the jellied texture of fresh dried fruit. The individual cloves have a savory sweet taste, a pleasant molasses undertone with a subtle hint of a soy sauce creating a flavor of umami.
Applications
Black garlic makes great purees and sauces that lend rich flavor to pizzas, potatoes, pastas and rice. It pairs well with mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese and pork.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Black garlic is unrelated to the ornamental plant Allium nigrum nor a genetically unique six-clove garlic also called black garlic.
Geography/History
Black garlic is a relatively newer form of garlic within the commercial market. Original fermentation methods included keeping the garlic in earthenware containers in caves or other cool areas for a few months. Some techniques air dry the garlic about forty days over aged soy sauce, which explains the soy sauce taste. Black garlic is produced in Japan, China, Korea and California.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Nine - Ten | San Diego CA | 858-964-5400 |
| Nobu | San Diego CA | 619-814-4124 |
| Burlap | San Diego CA | 858 369 5700 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Black Garlic. One
is easiest, three is harder.
