Belgium: New presentation of wild garlic at Van Laethem

Van Laethem's versatile assortment consists of culinary herbs, edible flowers, mini vegetables, sea vegetables and salads. A product that is also in the assortment again at the moment is wild garlic. The wild garlic (Allium ursinum) is a plant from the chive family (Alliaceae). It is a fairly rare variety and at the moment is from the Belgian Ardennes. It has a light onion/garlic flavour. The leaves especially smell like garlic after being rubbed.

"The first wild garlic is sold for a lot of money. After that the price usually goes down. We have the product in our assortment every year, but this is the first time that we're presenting it like this, without leaves," says John van Laethem. "We're also selling the flowers separately. The wild garlic first comes from Bulgaria, then France, and the wild garlic from Belgium is available for three weeks, a month at most. Restaurants want to put it on the map again right at the start of the season and use this product with various dishes like game and lamb. It is usually prepared in much the same way as spinach. Wild garlic is also available frozen, but the fresh product has a softer flavour and more aroma. It really gives a dish added value. Restaurants that buy this product find presentation and quality of products important, a sentiment we share."

For more information:
John van Laethem
Van Laethem Bvba
Lenniksebaan 1082
1602 Vlezenbeek
Tel: +32 2/569/5265
[email protected]
www.bellaroma.eu