a member of the lily family, garlic is a cousin to leeks, chives, onions and shallots. The edible bulb, or head, grows below the ground. The bulb is made up of sections, called cloves, each encased in its own parchment-like skin. In Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries, as well as India and China, garlic is an indispensable cooking ingredient. The flavor mellows when cooked.