Have you ever heard of bear’s garlic?

That’s it, it is again the season for bear’s garlic! Everywhere I go walking lately I end up passing by fields of bear’s garlic.

You may wonder what on earth I am talking about. I had never noticed that plant myself until last Spring. I was walking in the woods with a Swiss friend, who started talking about ‘Ail des Ours’ or `Bärlauch’ as she calls it.

It blooms around May. The plant is seen only in Europe in the woods or shady areas.  It smells quite strong, especially if you have a sensible nose like mine! It smells like garlic or onion.

What can you do with it? You can use it in salads, with quark, in sauces or even in breads. It apparently helps fighting against cholesterol and indigestion. Some use it in tea infusions.

So if you are walking somewhere in Europe this Spring and you smell something like garlic around you, look down, it may be bear’s garlic!

• Ail des Ours
• Bärlauch
• bear's garlic