Rocambole

Rocambole (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon) is a hardneck type of garlic known for its dramatic, curling flower stalk and rich, robust flavor considered by many garlic enthusiasts to be the best-tasting of all garlic types, though it stores less well than milder softneck varieties.

Growing Rocambole

Rocambole is planted from cloves in fall, exactly like other hardneck garlic, and needs a period of winter cold to properly form bulbs — it's better suited to cooler climates than very hot, mild-winter regions. Its curling flower stalk, or scape, should be cut off once it makes one or two loops, both to redirect the plant's energy into the bulb and for a tasty harvest in its own right.

Culinary Uses

Rocambole's bold, complex flavor is prized by cooks who find standard grocery-store garlic one-dimensional by comparison, though its papery skin and shorter storage life mean it's best used within a few months of harvest rather than kept long-term.