Photographer: NICLAS SILVERSTRAND

Wild Garlic
Kinnekulle

The garlic of the forest grown on the hill

Wild garlic is quite a rare species in Sweden but it flourishes on Kinnekulle. Visit Munkängarna or Västerplana Storäng up on the mountain in the spring and you can’t miss the sweetish scent of wild garlic. Remember that you are not permitted to pick wild garlic in the nature reserve!

Wild garlic proliferates on Kinnekulle

Wild garlic is a plant that likes wooded meadows and groves, places where the soil is alkaline, moist and rich in organic material. Kinnekulle is perfect. Wild garlic is a perennial and can grow up to 50 cm tall. Its star-shaped flowers are snowy white and the leaves are long, narrow and similar to those of lily-of-the-valley. Wild garlic has a strong scent similar to garlic, as its name suggests. In spring its smell is noticeable in the woods on the flowering mountain and if you want to see the beautiful flowers, it’s best to visit in May–June.

Medicinal use

Studies have been conducted into wild garlic as a healing plant and it has been found to be a natural antibiotic. The whole plant can be used. A water-based extract of wild garlic has a powerful antibiotic effect. It can be used as a remedy for colds, to prevent blood clots and to prevent atherosclerosis.

Culinary traditions

Wild garlic is ideal for use in cooking. The flavour is strong and like a mixture of garlic and chives, but the leaves are used rather than the bulb. The most common dish is wild garlic soup, but it’s just as good added to a potato salad, used in a cold sauce or turned into pesto. Many of the restaurants and local food artisans use wild garlic in their menus and products.