FAQ's
You’ve discovered where to buy garlic online and have ended up at the right place! If any of the following does not answer your questions please don’t hesitate to call.
What is Elephant Garlic?
Elephant Garlic ‘Allium Ampeloprasum’ looks and tastes like a garlic albeit much bigger and milder but it is in fact closer to the leek family. The uncultivated variant is called Babington’s leek which is occasionally seen on the costal paths of West Cornwall.
What are Elephant Garlic Scapes?
Elephant Garlic Scapes are the flowering stem of the Elephant Garlic plant. Both the stem and flower head are edible and with their delicious mild garlic taste they are an extraordinary accompaniment. The West Cornwall Garlic Company suggests you treat them like you would cook asparagus. Either blanch, sauté in butter, roast with a little olive oil, BBQ or chop for salads.
What is Green Garlic and Wet Garlic?
Green Garlic is garlic deliberately harvested early to create a wonderful tasting small mild mono bulb with a delicious stem (a substitute for the spring onion). Great in salads, sauté or roast to enhance any dish. Wet Garlic is the same as Green Garlic however the term Wet Garlic is sometimes more often used with chefs. At The West Cornwall Garlic Company we use the term Green Garlic apart from in the wholesale restaurant section of the website. At different times of the season we do both medium and large size Wet Garlic as the size of the mono bulb varies with the different varieties of garlic planted. The West Cornwall Garlic Company grows and sells great tasting varieties of garlic.
Can I buy Green/Wet Elephant Garlic?
From 2026 The West Cornwall Garlic Company will also be selling Green/Wet Elephant Garlic. It will have a large mono bulb and have a milder, fresher taste than the fully developed Elephant Garlic bulbs.
Is your garlic organic?
No sprays are used so it’s pesticide and herbicide free but not all the fertilisers used are organic. The garlic is not certified as organic.
What are the health benefits of garlic?
Garlic has numerous health benefits. Garlic can decrease pathogens for example viruses, bacteria and fungus. Garlic has anti-inflamatory properties. Garlic has insulin resistance which means it could be ideal for diabetics. Garlic improves the immune system and can help fight off infections. Garlic is nutrient rich, full of healthy vitamins and minerals. Garlic can decrease the risk of heart problems, clotting, stroke, it may also help high blood pressure. Finally and most importantly it can protect you from vampires! The statements above should not be taken as fact (even though they have been researched). Please seek advice from a medical practitioner.
How is UK grown garlic different than imported garlic?
Garlic grown by The West Cornwall Garlic Company is hand planted and no herbicides or pesticides are used. When garlic is grown in large quantities abroad it is very likely to have been treated with chemicals.
What is the shelf life of your garlic?
Once the Elephant Garlic has been hung (cured) it then has a shelf life of 5-6 months if stored corrrectly.
What is the ideal way to store garlic?
Keep the unpeeled garlic in a cool, dark, dry place with decent airflow. The ideal storage temperature is 60-65 degrees fahrenheit.