Sainmhíniú a member of the lily family,garlic is a cousin to leeks,chives,onions and shallots.The edible bulb,or head,grows below the ground.The bulb is made up of sections,called cloves,each encased in its own parchment-like skin.In Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries,as well as India and China,garlic is an indispensable cooking ingredient.The flavor mellows when cooked Tagairt Wegmans Frech Vegetables,Vegetables Index,1998