Foraging for wild garlic
Wild garlic, also Known as ‘creamh’ as Gaeilge, is a member of the allium family and is closely related to plants like garlic, onions, and chives. It is best harvested in Ireland from April to June when the bulbous root sprouts out long, dark green leaves, sometimes accompanied with white flowers.
Where to forage for wild garlic
Wild garlic can be found in shaded woodland areas, near steady water such as rivers, lakes etc. This makes finding the plant in Cavan pretty easy considering how many lakes we have. Wild garlic tends to grow in abundance in clumps. This means you will rarely see only one to two plants together but rather a large area covered. Always make sure you are picking it from public land or you have asked the land owners permission to pick. Some great places to pick up some wild garlic include Killykeen, Woodford River walk in Ballyconnell and Castle Saunderson.
How to safely and mindfully pick wild garlic
Wild garlic can look similar to a poisonous plant, Lily of the Valley. The key to making sure it is wild garlic is by smelling it. Wild garlic smells strongly of garlic. Pick a small leaf and rub it in between your hands. If it gives off a garlic smell, it’s wild garlic. No other plant that looks like wild garlic smells of garlic. When foraging for wild garlic it is important to be mindful of the local environment and other foragers. Try to avoid picking all the leaves from plants as they won’t grow back if all the leaves have been picked. Similarly, try not to clear out an entire area of wild garlic, pick what you need and leave the rest untouched. Lynne, from Into The Wild, a food truck located in Glangevlin who regularly forages says “Always pick away from main roads and dogs (that's not a cocktail you want to be mixing up!)”
What does wild garlic taste like?
As you might expect, it tastes like garlic! The flavour, however, is much milder than regular garlic, especially raw. Because of this, there is no need to cook wild garlic when adding to dishes. It is usually added chopped at the end of cooking or can be used raw. Popular uses include wild garlic butter, wild garlic pesto, wild garlic leaves used in salad instead of spinach, soup, scones etc.
How to grow your own wild garlic
Wild garlic can be grown at home, and planted from bulbs or seeds. They can take a while to grow to a clump for a decent harvest, bulbs taking two to three years with seeds sometimes taking up to four years. Róisín, from HealthTea, a local Ballyconnell business who produces all natural, organic teas, says: “Wild garlic is easily grown from wild garlic bulbs. The best time to plant it is from October to mid March, so there is still time to get yours going. Just plant them directly into the soil, Wild garlic thrives best in slightly acidic soil and in moist conditions. It doesn't mind a bit of shade either. The plant can be highly invasive so you can contain it by planting in pots.”
Health benefits of Wild Garlic
There are numerous health benefits of consuming wild garlic. Róisín, from HealthTea, says: “Wild Garlic is known for its antibacterial, antibiotic and antiviral properties, it also contains vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and copper. Studies have also shown that it may help reduce blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.”