Lautrec Pink Garlic, the star of Tarn dishes

Everyone knows what a clove of garlic looks like, but can you tell the difference with a bulb of pink garlic from Lautrec? And yet, this vegetable plant with subtle flavors is a must-have in Tarn cuisine, an ingredient renowned for its local fragrance and its many health benefits. Discover the star of the region's productions: Pink Garlic from Lautrec.

Lautrec Pink Garlic, a small vegetable with a light sweet taste

If you like cooking and strolling around the markets in the Tarn, you can't miss the pink garlic of Lautrec on the vegetable stalls. Defined as a stick garlic, it produces a rigid stalk, practical for packaging in bunches called manouille. The regular cloves with a pink color keep very well away from humidity, sold peeled or with two white skins (the pink is then barely perceptible) in stores and on the markets. Pink garlic has between 8 and 12 smooth cloves, and must have several mandatory mentions to be recognized as a pink garlic of Lautrec:

• The Label Rouge logo and the IGP designation
• The Pink Garlic logo by Lautrec
• Contact details for the Lautrec pink garlic union
• A unique number on each unit that allows traceability to be tracked

Last but not least, its exceptional taste qualities make Lautrec pink garlic a highly sought-after product.

Lautrec Pink Garlic, a recognized and certified quality in the Tarn

What makes this garlic special is its official recognition at the French and European level. Cultivated for centuries, it benefits from a certification that leaves no doubt about its quality, criteria regularly checked by the union for the defense of the Ail Rose de Lautrec label. The latter is also one of the first agricultural products to obtain the Label Rouge certification in 1966, followed in 1996 by the PGI indication which is a European protection. To be recognized as Lautrec pink garlic, this small vegetable with a sweet taste must be grown and harvested in the 88 designated municipalities. This explains the reputation of this colorful clove at the national and international level!

Lautrec Pink Garlic, a strict production cycle to respect

You need to be patient to appreciate this Tarn product which requires meticulous work, starting with the selection of the bulbs to plant. Only 5 varieties are authorized to claim the Ail Rose de Lautrec appellation: Ibérose, Edenrose, Goulurose, Jardirose and the fairground variety "Rose de Lautrec". The following steps follow the seasons throughout the year:

• August and September: preparation of clay-limestone soils
• November: Shelling and sorting of the finest grains
• December and January: planting by machine, or by hand for some producers
• May-June: despoiling, i.e. cutting the flower stem
• June/July: harvest of the bulbs which are then ripe

Drying and peeling are the next steps before packaging and putting on sale. The dried garlic will then be used to make the bunches called manouilles.

The Lautrec Pink Garlic Festival, an unmissable event in the Tarn

The event is not new since it has been organized since the 70s to mark the beginning of the commercialization of garlic. Every year, the pink garlic festival takes over the pretty village of Lautrec on the first weekend of August, bringing together producers, traders, locals, tourists and garlic lovers for two lively days. Market, entertainment, free tasting of garlic soup, games, concerts and sale of pink garlic from Lautrec, it is impossible to be bored during this summer festival, an unforgettable moment to experience every year in the heart of the Tarn.

Lautrec Pink Garlic, our favorite addresses in Tarn

Garlic soup, préfou with pink garlic from Lautrec, garlic tartiflette, garlic fries or creamy sauce flavored with garlic from Lautrec, there are so many ways to enjoy it that you should always have some in your pantry! A true star of the region, pink garlic from Lautrec is a must-have in Tarn cuisine, offering slightly sweet flavors used by passionate chefs. Here are our favorite addresses in Lautrec:

• L'Oc Xalis, a gourmet restaurant with creative cuisine, refined and fragrant recipes, a soft and warm atmosphere.

Enjoy your meal!

Lautrec pink garlic now has no more secrets for you. All you have to do is go to Lautrec to enjoy it!