Origins of the Pink Garlic of Lautrec
Pink Garlic was introduced to Lautrec during the Middle Ages. According to legend, a peddler, short on money, stopped at an inn called l’Oustallarié.
To settle his accommodation, he paid with garlic cloves.
The innkeeper planted these cloves and, captivated by the taste and color of the unfamiliar plant, began to cultivate pink garlic.
Garlic originates from Central Asia, where its medicinal properties and culinary value were recognized over 5000 years ago. Nomadic tribes carried it to the Far East, Middle East, and Southern Europe, using it as a form of currency.
Christopher Columbus brought garlic to South America, the Romans and Vikings introduced it to Western Europe, and a humble peddler brought it to Lautrec.
Pink Garlic of Lautrec characteristics
The pink garlic of Lautrec has a notably rigid stalk, perfectly adapted to the region’s clay and limestone soil. After harvesting, the garlic is left to dry for at least two weeks.
It is then peeled down to the final skin, revealing its delicate pink hue.
The long stalks are traditionally braided into plaits, known as manouilles. The Pink Garlic of Lautrec has become a significant commercial success. It was cultivated on a small scale until the 1950s, when young producers decided to promote it and enhance traditional cultivation methods.
To achieve this, they founded the Syndicat de Défense du Label Ail Rose de Lautrec in 1959. The Pink Garlic of Lautrec is celebrated for its delicate taste and its remarkable ability to keep from one crop to the next when stored at a constant temperature of 12ºC to 15ºC.
Want to check? Try this delicious garlic soup recipe
Pink Garlic of Lautrec’s labels
These qualities earned the Pink Garlic of Lautrec the prestigious Label Rouge (Red Label) in 1966.
It was one of the first agricultural products to receive this label, which guarantees quality and origin of production.
In the 1990s, producers developed ‘certified seeds of Pink Garlic of Lautrec.’ Using the traditional Forain species, they created several varieties such as Iberos, Goulurose, Edenrose, and Jardirose, which yield an average crop of 5 to 6 tons per hectare.
In 1996, the Pink Garlic of Lautrec was awarded the IPG (Certificat d’Identification Geograhique Protégée) certificate. This European label applies to agricultural products, ensuring they are produced in a designated area according to specific regulations and verified by an awarding body.
The Pink Garlic of Lautrec is cultivated following strict specifications, including guidelines for seed preparation, planting dates, crop rotation, fertilizer use, harvest dates, drying conditions, sorting, and packaging.
The certified Label Rouge and PGI Pink Garlic of Lautrec area encompasses 360 hectares across 88 municipalities in the southwest of the Tarn department.
Pink Garlic Festival
The Pink Garlic of Lautrec Festival was established in 1970 to celebrate the start of the marketing season.
Held on the first Friday of August, the festival features a variety of events and competitions, such as the contest for the longest plait or manouille of garlic.
The festivities include traditional garlic soup tastings and an open-air dance. Tourists, holidaymakers, and locals fill the medieval lanes of Lautrec, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Market stalls, shaded by large colorful parasols, overflow with pink garlic and other regional products.
The air is filled with the rich scents of garlic, fruits, and flowers as a joyous crowd moves from stall to stall. Friends and family reunite, visitors chat with stall owners, and everyone enjoys the warm summer day.
Brotherhood of the Pink Garlic of Lautrec
In 2000, the Syndicat de Défense du Label Ail Rose de Lautrec established the Confrérie de l’Ail Rose de Lautrec to promote Pink Garlic, the region, and its culinary traditions. This organization boasts nearly 200 members, who are formally inducted into the Brotherhood during the festival. Dressed in long, colorful robes and hats, these members participate in annual ceremonies and then join the crowd to partake in the joyous festivities.
This vibrant celebration is a must-see for anyone vacationing in this beautiful region.
