Garlic in France | Why the French love Garlic

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but nearly every dish in France is typically full of garlic. Living in France, you soon discover that the French use garlic every day. It’s a staple ingredient in pretty much every savory dish. Garlic in France is as common as bread, wine, and cheese.

My French neighbour, Stéphane, has a catchphrase for anything I’m cooking: “Add some garlic and butter and it will be fantastic.” It always makes me laugh.

Seriously, they add garlic to everything; it’s a national pastime. And if that wasn’t enough, they even have garlic festivals, which in itself isn’t a surprise as the French have numerous food festivals celebrating everything from truffles to omelettes.

As a garlic enthusiast living in rural France, where I now cultivate my own garlic, I was curious to learn more about the origins of garlic and why the French have such a fondness for it.

French Garlic

Although garlic is a native plant from Asia, it was the Romans who first brought garlic to France. 

You see, garlic in those days was thought to give courage, and so wherever they went, the Roman army would plant garlic. It was cultivated and used to give the soldiers going into battle the courage they needed.

As you can imagine, this meant it began to permeate the culture of cooking in France.

What is Garlic in French?

The French for garlic is “ail,” and there are many different types, from pink and violet to smoked and regional varieties.

The most popular are:

• l’ail rose de Lautrec
• l’ail violet de Cadours
• l’ail fumé d’Arleux
• l’ail blanc de Lomagne 
• l’ail de Provence

There are so many great French dishes to try, and most of them will have garlic in them. After all, it’s a natural flavouring, and unlike butter, which the French also love to use, it contains zero fat.

The Legends of Garlic in France

If you’ve ever wondered where those pictures of French men wearing berets, strippy blue and white T-shirts, and strings of garlic around their necks have come from, then keep reading.

Now, of course, we all know the tale of how wearing garlic around your neck will ward off vampires. But what about in your shoes?

Well, apparently, in the Middle Ages, people believed that when put in your shoes, it could keep whooping cough at bay. And if soaked in vinegar, you could keep the plague away. You’ve gotta love a legend.

Although not a legend, Louis Pasteur discovered that garlic has antiseptic properties and was considered to have medicinal value.

The Legends of Garlic from around the world

In ancient Greek mythology, garlic was said to have been created by the goddess Cybele.

According to legend, when the god Hermes was born, he was so hungry that he stole some oxen from Apollo and sacrificed them to the gods.

As punishment, Apollo made Hermes promise to always tell the truth, and Cybele gave him a garlic bulb to eat, which made him smell so bad that he was unable to lie without being detected.

In Chinese folklore, garlic was believed to be a powerful deterrent against demons. It was often used to ward off evil spirits and protect against black magic.

Garlic was also said to have been used by the famous Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu to protect himself from demons during his travels.

In some African cultures, garlic was used in rituals to protect against witchcraft and evil spirits. It was also believed to have medicinal properties and was used to treat a variety of ailments, including high blood pressure and fever.

Growing Garlic in France

Here in France, we have two different types of garlic, the ones planted in Spring and the ones planted in Autumn, but both are harvested in July. They’re plaited together and can last for several months.

The image of French men with plaits of garlic around their necks springs to mind.

The official French catalogue of garlic varieties lists 30 varieties of garlic found in France and tells you when to plant, how to grow, and how to harvest.

The Garlic Braid

The garlic braid, often seen hanging in a rustic French kitchen or at one of the local markets, is a centuries-old practice that is as much about practicality as it is about tradition.
In France, particularly in regions renowned for garlic cultivation, such as Provence, the practice of braiding garlic is a time-honored tradition.

It’s a skill passed down through generations, often associated with the harvest season when communities come together to celebrate and prepare the garlic for storage.
Braiding garlic serves several purposes:

• Preservation: Braiding helps in the drying process, which is crucial for preserving garlic. By allowing air to circulate around each bulb, braiding reduces the risk of moisture-induced rot, extending the garlic’s shelf life.
• Storage: A garlic braid offers a convenient way to store garlic. Hung in a cool, dry place, it keeps the bulbs in ideal conditions, minimizing space usage and keeping them within easy reach for culinary use.
• Aesthetic and Tradition: Beyond practicality, there’s an undeniable aesthetic appeal to garlic braids. I love buying them and hanging them in my kitchen here in France. It sets off the flagstones and old beams to perfection. I almost feel like I’m walking into the French kitchen of Julia Child.

Pink Garlic

The pink garlic of Lautrec is probably the most famous garlic in France. According to legend, it was first introduced in the Middle Ages when a penniless peddler paid for his accommodation in garlic cloves he’d brought with him.

The innkeeper fell in love with the color and taste and started planting his own, which is how it developed in the region.

It’s more delicate in taste than the traditional white garlic we’re used to seeing, that is readily available in supermarkets.

In 1966, it was awarded the prestigious Label Rouge (Red Label) guaranteeing the quality and origin of production.

It also received the IPG or Certificat d’Identification Geographique Protégée (certificate of protected geographical identification) in 1996.

It wasn’t till 1970 that the festival came into being. It’s held annually on the first Friday of August and is quite literally a festival that extols the virtues of garlic, including competitions such as the longest garlic plait (manouille in French).

So protected is this pink garlic that there is an actual brotherhood, the Syndicat de Défense du Label Ail Rose de Lautrec, to promote it. 

Garlic Festivals in France

The Midi-Pyrénées region is the main region in France that produces garlic. And although Lautrec is famous for its pink garlic, it’s the town of Beaumont-de-Lomagne in the Tarn-et-Garonne département that is the main producer of white garlic.

Both of these communes host festivals to celebrate the sacred garlic, as they produce approximately 63% of France’s annual garlic production.

Fête de l’Ail Rose in Lautrec

The Fête de l’Ail Rose began in the 1970s and was primarily established to celebrate the harvest of their prized pink garlic, featuring various attractions including the election of Miss Ail Rose de Lautrec and a competition for artistic compositions made from pink garlic (including bulbs, cloves, leaves, skins, and roots).

Traditionally, the festival takes place on the first Friday of August each year. However, since 2014, the event has expanded to include the following Saturday as well, turning it into a two-day celebration.

Fête de l’Ail Blanc in Beaumont-de-Lomagne

The Fête de l’Ail Blanc is traditionally held on the last Sunday of July. This timing aligns with the garlic harvest season, allowing the festival to celebrate the year’s crop and the efforts of the local farming community.

The cultivation of white garlic in Lomagne has deep historical roots, with records suggesting its presence dating back to the times of the Gauls.

The area’s garlic is a direct descendant of the varieties known to these ancient inhabitants, who highly valued garlic for its consumption and medicinal properties.

The modern efforts to produce and select high-quality garlic based on specific criteria began around 1958, spearheaded by the local producers’ syndicate.

National Garlic Day

Referred to as the “stinking rose,“ National Garlic Day is celebrated around the world on April 19 each year. And of course, France is a willing participant.

Why do we celebrate National Garlic Day?

As we know, garlic is believed to have numerous health benefits, so the idea behind National Garlic Day is to help people discover the history of this versatile spice. 

It’s a time to understand the various types of garlic available and why it has developed into one of the most widely used vegetables or spices in cooking.

Although garlic is considered a root vegetable in botanical terms, as a member of the onion family, it’s also referred to as a spice.

FAQS: Garlic in France

Final Thoughts: Why the French Love Garlic

As you can see, garlic not only has some great health benefits, but there are so many varieties to enjoy. The French have long been advocates of garlic and use it in many of their recipes.

Garlic in France is up there with cheese, wine, and, of course, French bread.

You’ll find it in everything from soups and casseroles to prawns and escargot, so Vive L’Ail en France.