12 ways to find out  if the garlic you've bought is real or fake

Moneycontrol News | August 24, 2024

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Real garlic: It has a firm, tight, and intact bulb. The cloves are well-formed, with papery skin that is usually white, off-white, or light purple

Appearance

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Fake garlic: It may have loose, soft, or mushy bulbs. The cloves might be smaller or irregular in shape, or the skin might peel off too easily

Appearance

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Real garlic: It has a strong, pungent, and distinct garlic smell, especially when crushed or cut

Smell

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Fake garlic: It may lack a strong aroma or smell less potent, which could indicate it is either fake or of inferior quality

Smell

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Real garlic: It should taste sharp, spicy, and slightly bitter when raw. The flavour should be robust and linger on your palate

Taste

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Fake garlic: It might taste bland, watery, or lacking in the characteristic heat of garlic

Taste

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Real garlic: It feels heavier and denser for its size. This indicates freshness and a higher water content

Weight

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Fake garlic: It often feels lighter and may be drier, indicating it’s old or not genuine

Weight

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Real garlic: The cloves inside the bulb should be well-formed, with a distinct shape. When peeled, they should feel firm and not easily squashed

Clove structure

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Fake garlic: The cloves may be irregular, overly small, or too soft. Some counterfeit garlic may even consist of cloves glued together

Clove structure

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Real garlic: When peeling real garlic, the skin should come off relatively easily, but not too quickly. The cloves underneath should be firm

Peeling test

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Fake garlic: The skin may peel off too easily, revealing cloves that are mushy or discoloured

Peeling test