Here is what Organic and locally grown garlic should look like:

The appearance of food seems to be taken to the next level. We already spoke about the importance of sourcing food locally and organic, but now we have food like garlic being shipped from thousands of miles away and have no idea where it’s coming from. Garlic has a MISLEADING APPEARANCE: Because of its shiny color and spotless appearance, Chinese garlic has become pretty popular in recent years. As much as 80 percent of the garlic sold globally is produced in China. China produces two kinds of garlic: organic and inorganic, both of which are loaded with pesticides and bleach to make it look sale worthy.

DRENCHED WITH CHEMICALS: The reason behind spraying chemicals on garlic is to prevent it from sprouting when it is kept on the store shelves. Garlic naturally has dark spots and is treated to get people to buy it. Therefore, to clean its appearance and make it look more appealing, Chinese garlic is bleached with chlorine to hide these dark spots. This chlorine is cancerous in nature.

Tips to keep in mind when buying garlic: 1. Taste: When you eat garlic and it’s bland in taste, chances are it is Chinese garlic. 2. Weight: If the garlic is light, soft and less bulbous, then it may have been shipped from China. 3. Roots: Chinese usually tend to remove the roots of their garlic. Check for the roots next time you are picking up garlic from a supermarket. 4. Local vendors: Opting for homegrown or locally grown garlic is a better option as it is relatively chemical free and better for our body. We never need chemicals on our food!

A photo of Chinese Garlic treated with chemicals: