What Is Elephant Garlic?

Elephant Garlic is the gentle giant of the garlic world. With its impressively large cloves, easy-peel skin, and a flavour that is milder and sweeter than regular garlic, it is fast becoming a favourite among home cooks, foodies, and health-conscious eaters across New Zealand. Technically more closely related to the leek family than true garlic, it delivers all the wonderful depth and aroma you love — just a little more refined and a lot more versatile.

Meet The Garlic Guy

Our Elephant Garlic comes from Craig Cooney — known simply as The Garlic Guy — who grows and supplies premium spray-free organic Elephant Garlic across the North Island of New Zealand. Craig works with a trusted network of farmers who share his passion for sustainable, ethical, and natural growing practices. Every bulb is hand-harvested, carefully cured, and cleaned before it leaves the farm — a labour-intensive artisan process that locks in maximum freshness, flavour, and nutritional goodness.

No sprays. No shortcuts. Just seriously good garlic from good people.

Why Is This Garlic So Special?

Most garlic available in New Zealand supermarkets is imported — often grown overseas with synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, then stored for months before it ever reaches a shelf. Craig's Elephant Garlic is the complete opposite. It is grown right here in New Zealand using sustainable, spray-free organic methods, hand-harvested at the right time, and delivered fresh. The difference in flavour, texture, and nutritional quality is remarkable — and once you've tried it, there's no going back.

How To Use Elephant Garlic

Elephant Garlic is one of the most versatile ingredients you can have in your kitchen. Its large cloves make it incredibly easy to prepare, and its milder flavour means it won't overpower a dish the way regular garlic sometimes can. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy it:

Roast it whole alongside vegetables or meats for a sweet, caramelised depth of flavour. Slice it raw into salads for a gentle garlicky kick. Sauté it gently in butter or olive oil as a base for soups, sauces, and pasta dishes. Spread roasted cloves on fresh sourdough like a flavour-packed butter. Use it anywhere you'd use regular garlic — just expect something even more delicious. One important tip — because Elephant Garlic has a higher natural sugar content than regular garlic, it can burn easily at high temperatures. Add it towards the end of stir-fries and pan cooking for the best results.

Health Benefits

Elephant Garlic is not just delicious — it is genuinely good for you. Like all garlic, it is packed with antioxidants, allicin, and natural compounds known to support immune function, heart health, and overall wellbeing. Being spray-free and organically grown means you get all of those benefits without any of the unwanted chemical residues.

Storage Tips

Store your Elephant Garlic in a cool, dry place — a brown paper bag in the pantry works perfectly. Kept correctly, it will last for months. If you cut into a clove and only use part of it, wrap the remainder in tin foil and pop it in the fridge — it will keep beautifully for up to a week that way. Wrapping it also means it won't taint the other goodies in your fridge with that gorgeous garlicky aroma — nobody wants garlic-flavoured butter or leftovers they weren't planning on! 🧄

Supporting Local — The Egg Project Way

At The Egg Project, we are passionate about connecting our community with the best locally grown food New Zealand has to offer. Partnering with Craig and The Garlic Guy is a natural fit — shared values of sustainability, quality, integrity, and a genuine love of good food grown the right way. When you buy this garlic, you are not just feeding your family well — you are supporting a small New Zealand business and the local farmers behind it.

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