Garlic (Allium sativum) is a herb in the onion family with a rounded bulb and long, sword-shaped leaves. The bulb contains 10–20 cloves covered in a papery coat, and the cloves have a distinct odor. The leaves are flat and green, and the flowers are greenish-white or pinkish, growing in dense clusters at the top of a stalk.

Garlic has a pungent, onion-like smell and taste. When raw, it's slightly bitter, but the flavor mellows and sweetens with cooking. Garlic contains allicin, an active compound that gives it its strong smell and flavor.