Garlic is the bulb of the garlic plant.
Understanding the Garlic Plant
The garlic plant (Allium sativum) is a member of the onion family. While the entire plant has some culinary and medicinal uses, the part we most commonly consume and consider "garlic" is its bulb.
The Bulb: The Heart of Garlic
The bulb is comprised of several cloves, which are essentially individual buds. These cloves are surrounded by a papery protective layer. It's these cloves that are typically used in cooking, providing the characteristic pungent flavor and aroma. [This is the most commonly used part](reference provided) of the plant. Except for single-clove varieties, the majority of garlic bulbs are made up of multiple cloves.
- Culinary Uses: Garlic cloves are used extensively in various cuisines worldwide, adding flavor to countless dishes.
- Medicinal Properties: Garlic has a long history of use in traditional medicine, attributed to its various bioactive compounds.
