🚨NEW SEASON ALERT🚨 - Wild Garlic 🍃

After a cold early Spring, with max temps barely reaching double figures, we at last welcome our first herald of New Season Veg. As you'd expect it's a leaf, but not just any leaf.

I think Wild Garlic could almost rival Asparagus as our favourite New Season Veg. It usually arrives a few weeks before Asparagus, with this year both being delayed by a couple of weeks compared to 2024. 

It certainly packs a punch if flavour terms, its mild Garlic aroma instantly recognisable when it arrives in our chiller. If you have inadvertently stood on the plant in your local woods you will know what I mean!

We source our WGL from Tina at Cherry Tree Farm near Appledore in Kent, some 35 Food Miles from us.

Tina has a small specialist farm, producing early leaves in Spring such as WGL and other salads. As the days get warmer she also produces herbs and edible flowers for the London Restaurant market. 

We also, from early Spring, get our Salad Leaves from Tina. If you are lucky you might get some edible flowers in the bag. 🌺

So, tell me more about Wild Garlic... 

Wild garlic, also known as ramps or bear's garlic (latin name Allium ursinum - literally Bear's Garlic), is a wild relative of the traditional garlic we all know and love. It boasts a more subtle flavour than its domestic counterpart, with hints of onion and a touch of garlicky goodness. It's like the rebellious teenager of the garlic family - a little wild, a little unpredictable, but oh so exciting!

Foraging Fun: Where to Find Wild Garlic

Unlike its tame cousin, wild garlic prefers to grow in shady, damp areas like woodlands and riverbanks. So, grab your basket and your sense of adventure, and head out into the great outdoors to forage for this flavourful herb. Remember, forage respectfully, only take what your need! Be sure of what you a re picking though, there are some similar woodland plants that are poisonous  🤒

Wildly Versatile: How to Use Wild Garlic

Once you've gathered your wild garlic, the culinary possibilities are endless. Chop it up and add it to salads for a fresh kick, blend it into pesto for a wild twist, or sauté it with some butter and drizzle it over pasta for a truly wild experience. The only limit is your imagination (and maybe the amount of wild garlic you have on hand).

All parts of the plant are edible, but be kind, leave the roots and bulbs for next year.

Click HERE for our Pinterest Recipe Page

Health Benefits: Going Wild for Wellness

Not only is wild garlic delicious, but it's also packed with health benefits. It's rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly Magnesium. So, go ahead and indulge in that wild garlic pesto - it's practically a health food (or at least that's what we'll tell ourselves).

So, what are you waiting for? Embrace the wild side of garlic and add a touch of adventure to your next meal. Whether you're a seasoned forager or a culinary newbie, wild garlic is sure to add a dash of excitement to your kitchen escapades. Get wild, get garlicky, and get cooking!