Q 01/05

Garlic belongs to which plant genus, alongside onions, leeks and chives?

A) Allium

B) Brassica

C) Capsicum

D) Solanum

Answer · why

A) Allium

Its scientific name is Allium sativum; shallots, Welsh onions and Chinese onions are close relatives too.

Q 02/05

To which region is garlic native?

A) The Mediterranean

B) Central Asia

C) West Africa

D) Central America

Answer · why

B) Central Asia

It has since naturalised across Mediterranean Europe and China, and at least 120 cultivars come from its homeland.

Q 03/05

Which country produced about 73% of the world's garlic in 2024?

A) India

B) Spain

C) China

D) Egypt

Answer · why

C) China

World production that year was around 30 million tonnes.

Q 04/05

A typical garlic bulb is made up of roughly how many cloves?

A) 3 to 5

B) 30 to 40

C) 50 or more

D) 10 to 20

Answer · why

D) 10 to 20

The cloves nearest the centre are symmetrical; the outer ones tend to be lopsided.

Q 05/05

What triggers the sharp flavour and smell of garlic?

A) Exposure to sunlight

B) Boiling in water

C) Storing it in the fridge

D) Damaging the plant's cells

Answer · why

D) Damaging the plant's cells

Enzymes in the cell vacuoles break down stored compounds only when a clove is chopped, chewed or crushed, which is why a whole roasted clove is sweet.