Garlic from the Isle of Wight in a market near you!
Writing in her book, 'The Food Pharmacy' published in 1991 by Simon and Schuster, Jean Carper says, 'Garlic Improves the Blood.' New research is closing in on Garlic's mechanisms for favourably modifying the blood, particularly blood-clotting factors that help stave off blood clots - the immediate cause of most heart attacks and strokes.' 'In tests on humans Garlic has been found to lower bad cholesterol; raise the good HDL cholesterol; lower blood pressure; produce more natural killer cells in the blood, which help fight off infections and tumours; inhibit blood platelet stickness (aggregation), thereby reducing the risk of blood clots; destroy infection causing bacteria and viruses; cure encephalitis and reduce the risk of certain cancers.'
Every year I buy stacks of Garlic at the annual Hampton Court Flower Show, from the Garlic Farm, based on the Isle or Wight. They sell many varities, but the one I always buy is 'Heritage' (Moldovian Garlic) which is recommended on any number of alternative health websites, as the one with the greatest healing powers, but thank goodness, I have now found they have a stall at the monthly Farmers Market on the third Saturday in Arundel, West Sussex, where you can buy all their produce. And it's not just Arundel each month, they have stalls at other markets around the country, where you can buy their garlic varities ranging from the mild to the very strong, as well as garlic for growing yourself. As someone who likes to choose what food they buy, I find this ideal.
SMOKED GARLIC Has, as the name suggests been smoked, in this case over smoldering oak chips for five days. Now you may think these expensive at £2.50p for a large bulb, but let me assure/warn you that once tasted you will be addicted to oak smoked garlic for life. The cloves have a sweet, almost nutty, flavour all of their own, with none of the heat of the raw vegetable.
If you like brand name flavoured cream cheeses which come in tiny packs at huge prices, then make it yourself for about a quarter of the cost. Buy two tubs of 'own brand' Cream Cheese. Into one add one large or two small cloves of crushed garlic plus a little salt and mix well. Into the other add freshly ground black or coloured pepper, again with a little salt and a tea-spoon of mixed herbs. If like me, you grow your own chives, do a third with fresh chives. There is nothing so nice as home made food, particularly when entertaining friends.
For more information visit the Garlic Farm website www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk
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Last updated 17 November 2009