As a bit of a Garlic 101 refresher, there are literally dozens and dozens of garlic varieties spread between the two main branches in the true garlic family: hardneck and softneck garlics.

Hardnecks are more often large bulbs with large, easy to clean bulbs.  Hardnecks include some of the most sought after strains, the Rocamboles as well as Porcelain, Marbeled Purple Stripe and others.  Rocamboles are considered among the best of the best by the “offishandinachos” for their complex flavors. That said you gotta get rocamboles while they last since they are very popular and don’t store as long as some of the other garlic varieties.

-Porcelain variety garlics are more likely hot little numbers when used raw and are highest in allicin, that part of raw garlic that is oh-so-good-for-you.  Wen cooked Porcelain heat tones down to that solid garlic  flavor we all love so know well.  Marbeled Purple Stripe is a very interesting area of the garlic varieties as they too have rice flavor characteristics and come in huge easy to clean bulbs.  Better yet they seem to store well as well.

Softneck garlics are the makings for braided garlic.  They too can be large bulbs but Softnecks have multiple rows of vari sized cloves around the center.  Softnecks store exceedingly well lasting up to a year in the right conditions.  That trait comes with a certain price however as Softnecks need a bit more effort to clean.  A garlic press is the ideal workaround to that condition, or roasting. Softnecks are the garlic of choice for Vampire Supression

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