Garlic is believed to be the native of Central Asia, the center of
diversity ranging from the Himalayas to Turkestan and has been cultivated
for more than 5000 years.
It was worshipped by the Egyptians and fed to workers building the Great
Pyramid at Gaza, about 2600 BC. Greek athletes ate it to build their
strength. It was largely consumed by the ancient Greek and Roman soldiers,
sailors and rural classes and by the African peasantry.
Garlic came to the Western Hemisphere with some of the first European
explorers, and its use spread rapidly. In the United States it was first
cultivated in New Orleans by French settlers. Missionaries brought it to
California, where it is grown today. Garlic was rare in traditional
English cuisine.