Garlic on sale in Porto street market. Allium sativum,commonly known as garlic,is a species in the onion genus,Allium.Its close relatives include the onion,shallot,leek,chive,and rakkyo. With a history of human use of over 7,000 years,garlic is native to central Asia,and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region,as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia,Africa,and Europe. It was known to Ancient Egyptians,and has been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes.Garlic is known to cause bad breath (halitosis) and body odor |