Winter garlic "Latvian", or "Old-time grandma's garlic"

  • Bulb – 4–7 large, densely arranged cloves, purple skin
  • Garlic bulb size - large to very large
  • Taste – sharp and “garlicky”, not mild
  • Flower stalks – strong and straight, with characteristic curls.


    • What are “old-time Latvian garlic”?

    This name usually refers to ancient local garlic lines that have been grown in Latvian farms for decades before modern imported varieties appeared. They are often not registered as official varieties, but are preserved farm and parish seeds that have adapted to Latvia's climate.

    Characteristic features

    Old Latvian garlic usually are:

    • Strong aroma, with a distinct sharp–sweet flavor bouquet.

    • Resistant to frosts and changing weather conditions.

    • Firmer, denser cloves, than the large imported garlic.

    • Smaller in size, but sharper and more aromatic.

    • Keep longer if properly dried.

    • Usually hardneck (hardneck), which form flower stalks.

    A bit of history:

  • Garlic in Latvia has grown for at least several hundred years, especially in the homesteads of Kurzeme and Vidzeme.

  • During Soviet times, the most popular “folk varieties” were passed on from hand to hand, as official variety collections were limited.

  • On farms, they were propagated every year from their own bulbs, thus creating local adaptations to climate and soil.

    • Popular local lines (unofficial names)

    Many farmers name them after their places of origin, for example:

    • “Garkalne garlic”

    • “Krustpils garlic”

    • “Alsunga garlic”

    • “Vecumnieki local”

    These are not registered variety names, but rather folk selection, which is often very valuable precisely for its aroma and resistance.