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Garlic Variety Guide: In-Depth Overview

All About Our Hardneck Garlic at Shipwrecked Garlic Co.

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🧄 The Basics of Garlic Varieties

Garlic (Allium sativum) comes in two subspecies: softneck and hardneck. At Shipwrecked Garlic Co., we specialize in hardneck garlic exclusively—known for its robust flavor and large, easy-to-peel cloves.

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What Makes Hardneck Garlic Unique?

  • Produces a scape, a flowering stalk that enhances culinary versatility

  • Fewer but larger cloves per bulb

  • Richer, more complex flavor profiles

  • Preferred by chefs and garlic enthusiasts

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Seed Garlic vs. Culinary/Table Garlic

  • Seed garlic: Larger bulbs used for planting

  • Culinary/table garlic: Smaller bulbs used for eating

  • Flavor and quality are identical—the difference is size and shelf life (smaller bulbs store longer)

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🌱 Garlic Varieties We Grow

At Shipwrecked Garlic Co., we proudly grow five exceptional hardneck garlic varieties. Each one is carefully selected for flavor, performance, and versatility.

We also offer detailed guides and information on many other hardneck garlic varieties for garlic lovers and gardeners alike. Explore all the types we showcase below.

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🏛 Porcelain Group

Thick white to pinkish wrappers, 4–6 large cloves, high allicin content, long storage (5–7 months).

  • Music – Bold, full-flavored, spicy when raw, mellow when cooked. Popular and hardy.

  • German White – Bright white, strong flavor, excellent for roasting. Called the "workhorse porcelain."

  • Romanian Red – Hot, pungent, high allicin. Excellent for sauces and bold dishes.

  • Georgia Fire – Exceptionally hot raw. Robust and lingering.

  • Georgia Crystal – Pure, clean flavor with a crisp finish. Excellent raw or cooked.

  • Yugoslavian Red – Pungent raw heat that sweetens when cooked. Great for storage.

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🍷 Creole Group

Gorgeous rose-colored cloves, 8–12 per bulb, full flavor with a warm bite. Excellent for southern growers.

  • Aglio Rosso – Flavor intensifies with storage. Rich, earthy, and pleasantly spicy.

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🍠 Marbled Purple Stripes Group

Sweet, flavorful roasting garlic with beautiful marbling. Typically 4–7 cloves.

  • Bogatyr – Deep purple bulbs with excellent flavor and cold hardiness.

  • Metechi – Fiery raw flavor, excellent storage, bold presence in dishes.

  • Siberian – Holds flavor through cooking, large cloves, and lingering finish.

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🌶 Asiatic Group

Large bulbs with plump, colorful cloves. Strong, spicy flavors.

  • Korean Red – Vigorous grower with lasting, spicy heat. Great raw or roasted.

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🔁 Rocambole Group

Rich, complex flavors with easy-peel cloves. Best raw, short to medium storage.

  • Russian Red – Big up-front heat with a smooth, non-sulfurous aftertaste.

  • German Red – Velvety, deep flavor that complements winter dishes.

  • German Giant – Earthy, rich, and complex. Reliable and adaptable.

  • Spanish Roja – Balanced flavor. Spicy raw, sweet roasted. Chef favorite.

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💜 Purple Stripe Group

Full garlic flavor, mellow heat, sweet roasted. 7–12 cloves per bulb.

  • Chesnok Red – Full flavor with a smooth finish. Exceptional when roasted.

  • Persian Star – Mellow, rich garlic flavor with minimal bite. Stunning appearance.

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🍥 Turban Group

Early harvest garlics with vibrant wrappers and hot, succulent cloves.

  • Chinese Pink – Very early harvest, mild flavor, great for fresh eating.

  • Thai Fire – Bold and fiery with complex, lasting heat. Great for spicy cuisine.

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🇮🇹 Italian Red (Group: Purple Stripe or Marbled Purple Stripe)

  • Mild but richly complex with a bit of heat. Excellent raw or cooked.

  • Uniform large bulbs with beautiful red and purple tones.

  • Great for caramelizing due to high natural sugars.

 

Explore each variety and order online at shipmygarlic.com.

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Grow bold. Grow Shipwrecked.

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