Garlic variety · Botanical type
Kashmiri Single-Clove Garlic
Also known as Ek Kali Lahsun, Snow Mountain Garlic, Himalayan Pearl Garlic
Kashmir Himalayan region (1,800+ m elevation); landraces maintained by farmers in Pulwama, Anantnag districts · Folk selection / farmer-maintained landraces
Rare single-clove type with unique high-altitude terroir; strongest flavour and pungency; premium pricing for specialty markets; traditional medicinal use; cultural significance
Key facts
| Type | Botanical type |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kashmir Himalayan region (1,800+ m elevation); landraces maintained by farmers in Pulwama, Anantnag districts |
| Breeder / source | Folk selection / farmer-maintained landraces |
| Parentage | Traditional Himalayan landrace, grown for centuries in Kashmir valley |
| Yield | Yields lower than modern varieties but compensated by premium prices in specialty markets; Pulwama cultivation recently expanded to 600+ hectares |
| Tolerance | Highly adapted to cold, high-altitude conditions (1,800–2,500 m); requires snow-melt irrigation |
| Distinctive features | Single large clove per bulb, 0.7–4 cm dia; hard exterior protective layers; round, oblong, or tapered teardrop shape; robust pungent savory flavour with faint astringent notes |
| Grown in | Kashmir Himalayan valleys (J&K), Pulwama district primary hub (600+ ha); emerging cultivation in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand |
| Also known as | Ek Kali Lahsun, Snow Mountain Garlic, Himalayan Pearl Garlic |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
Kashmiri Single-Clove Garlic in detail
Kashmir's single-clove garlic is a rare, high-altitude landrace grown above 1,800 metres, shaped by snowmelt and mineral-rich Himalayan soil. It is prized for an unusually strong, concentrated pungency, which some sellers put at several times that of ordinary multi-clove garlic.
Origin & story
Folk selection by farmers in the high Himalayan zones of Kashmir has maintained this distinct single-clove type for traditional use and local medicine. Commercial garlic cultivation in the region is relatively recent and has expanded notably over the past several years.
How it grows
Grown at elevations above 1,800 metres in districts such as Pulwama and Anantnag, on mineral-rich, rocky soil moistened largely by snowmelt. The short, cold growing season is associated with the single dense clove this type is known for, and it is harvested once a year. Garlic cultivation in Pulwama has grown to more than 600 hectares overall, with growers targeting roughly 500 metric tonnes, though these figures cover garlic broadly in the district rather than the single-clove type alone.
Quality & character
A single large clove per bulb, ranging roughly 0.7–4 cm in diameter depending on conditions. Outer protective layers are hard; the inner clove is pale. Shape can be round, oblong, or a tapered teardrop. The flavour is robustly pungent and savoury with a faint astringent note; some sources describe it as around seven times more potent than regular garlic, attributing this to higher allicin content.
Why it matters to buyers
Commands premium pricing due to limited terroir, low yield per plant, and labour-intensive harvest. It is sought after in specialty markets and has a long history of traditional and Ayurvedic use. The intense pungency and single-clove form appeal to chefs and home cooks for both flavour intensity and easy peeling. Quality indicators include a sharp, lingering aroma and the absence of multiple clove segments.
About garlic
India grows both short-day and long-day garlic varieties suited to its diverse agro-climates, from the tropical Deccan to the Himalayan foothills. The National Horticultural Research Development Foundation (NHRDF) in Nashik has released the widely planted Yamuna Safed series from southern germplasm, while the Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR)…
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