All the Rage at PW Farm
PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE FOLACCI
“We wanted to offer something different for people. Everyone who has tried it likes it. You really experience the black garlic throughout four of your five senses. It looks different than your classic garlic, feels and smells different, and of course tastes different, too.”
Sharing a meal with loved ones is a sacred celebration — of love, life and sustenance. This divine ritual is made even sweeter when the food shared is as nourishing as it is delicious. I have visited various farmers’ markets searching for new ingredients to incorporate into my diet and brainstorming new meals to create.
On one of my trips to a local farmers’ market, I met Debby and David Truman, owners of PW Farm in San Benito, where they have been implementing sustainable and holistic practices for fourteen years. On their farm, you will find chickens, holland lop rabbits, pekin ducks, turkeys, two chihuahuas, two blue heelers, honey bees and the elusive black garlic. These two sweet people sell many items, such as fresh chicken, quail and duck eggs, adorable bunny rabbits and of course, their black garlic. This is garlic that has been cured and fermented, which gives it a different flavor, texture and color.
“We wanted to offer something different for people,” Debby explains. “Everyone who has tried it likes it. You really experience the black garlic throughout four of your five senses. It looks different than your classic garlic, feels and smells different, and of course tastes different, too.”
I still remember the first time I tasted the Trumans’ black garlic hummus. Nothing I had ever tried before came close to the slightly nutty, sweet yet tangy flavor. If I could compare the flavor and texture of black garlic to anything, it would be a dried date with a rich, savory flavor — very similar to balsamic vinegar.
“People are very amazed when they taste it,” says David. “Some people think we add something to make it sweet, but no, it’s just the process changing the composition of the white garlic. It’s something very different and unique.”
PERSEVERANCE AND SWEET, SWEET FERMENTATION
PW Farm is a pioneer in the black garlic world, as in the Rio Grande Valley, many hadn’t been exposed to such a delicacy. The Trumans were “the only ones in the game” when they first started back in 2010, David shares.
Creating black garlic is a unique process, one that took Dave a few years to perfect. Whole garlic cloves are cured in a humid environment for several weeks. After enough heat, the cloves are then cooled down and fermented. “They have to age and settle on their own. It’s just heat and time,” adds David.
It’s a natural process that requires consistent monitoring over one to two months. “It’s similar to wine where you are constantly checking on it to make sure it’s good. If something goes wrong on the last day of the process, the entire batch will go bad. You either persevere or give up. There’s a lot of heartache involved in this business.”
Despite the challenges in developing black garlic, the Trumans remain dedicated to offering it so people may experience the health benefits said to come from the vegetable. Both Debby and David have experienced improvements to their overall well-being, they say, and have received plenty of similar positive feedback from their customers as well. Black garlic contains more antioxidants than raw garlic, due to the aging process that converts allicin to antioxidants, according to the National Institutes of Health. Along with providing the many benefits of antioxidants, black garlic may help regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of heart disease and improve brain and liver health.
Black garlic is a perfect balance of sweet and savory and has a soft, delicate texture. It can be used as a spread or in dips, stir fries, soups, rice platters, you name it. It is best to add the vegetable after a dish is completely cooked, says Debby.
Given its delectable flavor and reported health benefits, it is obvious why the Trumans care so deeply about sharing black garlic with the community.
- Visit rgvblackgarlic.com for recipes and products.
