Garlic

Garlic was a common form of spice found in the Realms.

Description
Garlic plants had hollow long dark green spear-shaped leaves. The top of the plant had a round cluster of fine white flowers. The plant was renown for its strong smell, making it easy to identify in the wild, poultices, or foods. The sent became potent when the leaves were crushed. Garlic plants flowered in the mid-to late summer.

Availability
Garlic was often cultivated in gardens. The plant preferred moist earth and humid locations and in the wild, could be seen growing in meadows or thin forests. Places in the Realms where garlic was known to be cultivated included:
 * The Dalelands.

Cost
Garlic was not an expensive spice. In most economies, of garlic sold for only a copper piece. Aurora's Emporium sold a large clove of garlic for 3 coppers and a large bud of garlic for 5 coppers. A quart of pickled garlic sold for 5 silver pieces.

History
Circa 1370 DR, Rab Bitnez created the first in Faerûn garlic-bearing vine.

Culinary Usages

 * Garlic was commonly used as a seasoning.
 * It was sometimes used to flavor crackers.
 * Garlic butter.
 * Garlic sauce
 * The recipe for Amnian Dragoon Soup included garlic.

Magical Usages

 * Garlic was used as a material component in some versions of the slow poison and hold poison spells, as well as halt undead.
 * Vampires, famously, could not tolerate the smell of garlic and would not voluntarily enter an area with a strong odor of it. (This was not true, however, for vampiric dragons! )

Miscellaneous Usages

 * Medicinally, garlic was used in various herbal concoctions, such as a snuff used for nasal ailments.
 * Garlic was known for its antiseptic properties and could be used as an insect repellant.

Classes

 * Garlic was a common ingredient that could be found in wizards' laboratories.

Individuals

 * Rab Bitnez, a wizard who wrote the garlic-centric cookbook 101 Garlic Recipes, which featured recipes like The Bitnez Pavlova Extraordinaire!, Rab's Riotously Intense Ice Cream, and Garlic Guy Pie.

Regions & Settlements

 * The Oak-Father's Boon inn in Mosstone of Tethyr served lamb kidneys in smokey and garlicky sauce.
 * In the Western Heartlands, ground garlic was among the spices considered "base staples" and were often found being carried in the spice pouches of travelers.

Trivia

 * Mindflayers that were healthy from brain-rich diets excreted a thin film of slimy, glistening mucus that gave off a faint odor that was sometimes described as similar to garlic, although this smell was imperceptible from afar.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * War in Tethyr
 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter Nights series ( Neverwinter Nights 2 &bull; Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir &bull; Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford) &bull; Sword Coast Legends &bull; Baldur's Gate III
 * Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
 * Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
 * Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn