Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) grows in moist, shady forests and is often collected as an herb. Wild garlic differs from its poisonous counterparts – lilies of the valley and autumn crocuses – in its typical, intense smell.
What does wild garlic smell like?
The dark green leaves of wild garlic, up to seven centimeters wide, exude a strong smellreminiscent of garlic To distinguish the herb from poisonous lily of the valley or autumn crocus leaves, grind the leaves between two fingers. The essential oils with the characteristic scent are released.
When does wild garlic smell strongest?
The smell and taste of wild garlic are particularly intense between March and May. From the beginning of Marchthe wild garlic season begins andends around the beginning of May when the herb begins to bloom. However, when flowering begins, wild garlic loses a lot of its aroma and should no longer be collected.
Does wild garlic give you bad breath?
The typical garlic-like smell of both garlic and wild garlic is caused by the sulfur-containing essential oil allicin. This is odorless in itself, but is transformed into alkylsulfenic acid when the plant is ground or cut - and this in turn is responsible for the typical garlic scent. After eating wild garlic you willalso develop bad breath, but not as strongas after eating garlic.
How do you get rid of the smell of wild garlic?
It helps to combat the garlic-like smell in the mouth by drinkinga glass of milkwhile eating wild garlic. This dissolves the allicin and makes the oil odorless, so to speak. Afterwards,mint or sage candies, whose essential oils neutralize the garlic scent, help. Alternatively, you can also chew fresh mint or sage leaves. Parsley also helps a lot.
Tip
Can you poison yourself with wild garlic?
Since wild garlic is not poisonous, you cannot poison yourself with the plant. However, it becomes dangerous if you confuse the wild garlic leaves with the leaves of the poisonous autumn crocus or lily of the valley when collecting them. You can easily distinguish the different types by their smell: wild garlic smells like garlic, the other plants don't. But be careful: the smell of garlic sticks to your fingers - then you can no longer distinguish between the plants by smell.
