Garlic Scapes Home Remedies: Natural Benefits You Must Know

Introduction

In late spring, you might notice curly green stalks at the farmer’s market. These are garlic scapes. Many people overlook them, but they are a hidden gem in natural cooking and home remedies.

Garlic scapes are the young, curly stems that grow from hard-neck garlic plants. The plant sends up these flower stalks, called scapes, before the garlic bulb is fully grown. Farmers remove them so the bulbs can grow larger, giving you a tasty and versatile ingredient to use.

For centuries, people in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East have used garlic and its green shoots for both flavor and health. Garlic scapes offer nearly the same benefits as garlic bulbs, including antioxidants, cholesterol support, antibacterial effects, and immune support, but with a milder taste.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know about garlic scapes:

• What they are and how they differ from garlic cloves
• Their nutrition profile and health benefits
• Easy home remedies that use garlic scapes
• How to grow, harvest, and store them safely
• How to cook them deliciously
• Why they deserve a spot in both your kitchen and your home remedy cabinet

Keep reading to find out why these green, spiral stalks are getting noticed by chefs, herbalists, and health enthusiasts everywhere.

Key Takeaways

• Garlic scapes are young, curly shoots from hard-neck garlic plants, harvested in early summer.
• They’re rich in vitamins A, C, and K, fiber, and sulfur compounds that boost health.
• Natural home remedies using garlic scapes can help fight inflammation, support immunity, and balance cholesterol levels.
• Culinary uses include pesto, stir-fries, soups, pickles, and roasted dishes.
• Harvesting scapes helps garlic bulbs grow larger, making them a practical and sustainable choice.
• Proper storage extends freshness for weeks or even months.

What Are Garlic Scapes?

Garlic scapes grow on hard-neck garlic varieties like Rocambole, Porcelain, and Purple Stripe. These green stalks come up from the bulb, curl, and end in a small bud that would become a flower if not picked.

When raw, garlic scapes are crisp. When cooked, they become tender and have a mild garlic flavor, similar to onion and fresh herbs. They taste smoother and less sharp than garlic cloves.

Learn more about hard-neck garlic types at Keene Organics.

Scapes are actually flower stems, but they will not bloom if picked early. Taking them off helps the plant focus on growing a bigger, healthier bulb. Buying scapes gives you a tasty ingredient and supports sustainable garlic farming.

How Do Garlic Scapes Taste?

Garlic scapes have a mild garlic flavor that is softer than raw cloves. This makes them great for salads, sauces, and herbal drinks. When sautéed or grilled, they turn sweet and nutty, similar to roasted garlic.

Many people think garlic scapes taste like a mix of garlic, scallions, and asparagus. This makes them perfect for light summer meals.

Watch: Garlic Scape Taste Test and Cooking Tips (YouTube)

Nutritional Profile of Garlic Scapes

Vitamin A	33 µg	Eye and skin health
Vitamin C	25 mg	Immunity and collagen support
Fiber	1.2 g	Gut health
Manganese	0.9 mg	Metabolism and bone strength
Sulfur Compounds	—	Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory
Calcium	30 mg	Bone and teeth support
Potassium	200 mg	Heart rhythm regulation

Garlic scapes are full of vitamins A, C, and K, and have dietary fiber and sulfur compounds like allicin. They also contain minerals such as calcium and iron, making them a healthy choice for seasonal recipes.

Health Benefits of Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes not only add flavor to your food, but they can also support your health.

Here are their main health benefits:

1. Strengthens the Immune System

Garlic scapes are rich in vitamin C and organosulfur compounds like allicin. These help fight viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Allicin helps your body’s white blood cells respond better, so you can fight infections more quickly.

Read Healthline’s research on garlic’s immune benefits.

Home Remedy:

Blend a few garlic scapes with honey and lemon juice. Take one spoonful daily to boost your immunity, especially during the cold season.

2. Supports Heart Health

Studies show that garlic compounds help reduce LDL cholesterol, prevent plaque buildup, and improve blood circulation.

Garlic scapes have these same compounds, but in smaller amounts. This is helpful for people who are sensitive to strong garlic.

Add garlic scapes to green smoothies with cucumber and fennel for a natural heart-cleansing drink.

3. Anti-inflammatory & Detox Properties

Sulfur in garlic scapes helps the liver produce glutathione, a key antioxidant.

This helps clean the blood, supports the liver, and may reduce joint pain.

You can mix garlic scapes with turmeric or ginger to make a natural anti-inflammatory juice.

4. Improves Brain and Memory Function

Antioxidants in garlic scapes reduce oxidative stress, a key factor in age-related memory loss.

Vitamin B6 in garlic scapes helps keep your brain chemicals balanced, which can improve focus and reduce tiredness.

5. Natural Antibacterial and Antifungal Remedy

Garlic scapes can help stop harmful bacteria in your mouth, so they are useful for mouth rinses and gum care.

They’ve been used for centuries in Korean, Japanese, and Mediterranean herbal medicine.

Try: Honey Lemon Cough Drops – Natural Home Remedy

Home Remedies Using Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes are not just for eating. You can also use them as natural medicine.

Here are some easy home remedies you can try:

1. Garlic Scape Honey Syrup

Ingredients:

• 10 chopped garlic scapes
• 1 cup raw honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a glass jar. Let it sit for 48 hours.

Take 1 teaspoon daily for immunity or sore throat relief.

2. Garlic Scape Oil for Inflammation

Infuse 1 cup of olive oil with 6 garlic scapes for 3 days.

Use as a massage oil or apply lightly to joints for pain.

3. Garlic Scape Tea

Boil chopped scapes in water for 10 minutes.

Strain and serve warm with honey for colds and detox.

4. Garlic Scape Pesto (Healing & Delicious)

Blend together:

• 1 cup garlic scapes
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup nuts (pine or cashew)
• Juice of one lemon
• 2 tbsp Parmesan

Use on toast, pasta, or vegetables for meal and medicinal benefits.

Culinary Uses of Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes are a dream ingredient for creative cooks.

You can use them instead of garlic cloves in almost any recipe.

Top Recipes:

• Stir-fried with tofu and ginger
• Blended into soup bases
• Pickled for probiotic gut health
• Roasted for a nutty taste
• Added to salads for crunch

See How to Cook Garlic Scapes (YouTube)

How to Store Garlic Scapes

Here’s how to keep garlic scapes fresh:

• Wrap them in a damp towel and place them in a plastic bag.
• Store in the fridge for up to 14 days.
• For long-term storage, chop and freeze them in airtight bags.

Environmental & Sustainable Value

Using garlic scapes helps cut down on farm waste.

Instead of discarding them, farmers sell scapes as seasonal produce — supporting zero-waste agriculture and local economies.

Spiritual and Traditional Uses

In Eastern medicine, garlic and its scapes are believed to balance internal “qi” energy and purify the blood.

They stand for cleansing, strength, and endurance, which appeals to people interested in natural living.

Conclusion

Garlic scapes are a superfood and a super remedy — uniting taste, health, and sustainability.

These curly green shoots can lower cholesterol, boost immunity, and make your meals better. They show that simple foods from nature can be very powerful.

Next time you visit the farmer’s market, don’t pass them by. Take some home and use them to make healthy meals and remedies.

FAQs

1. What are garlic scapes?

   They are the green shoots of hard-neck garlic plants, harvested before flowering.

2. Can I eat them raw?

  Yes, but they’re milder when cooked or roasted.

3. Are they healthy?

   Absolutely! Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and detoxifying compounds.

4. How can I use garlic scapes as a home remedy?

  Make syrup, tea, or infused oil for immunity, heart health, and inflammation.

5. How long do they last?

   Up to 2 weeks refrigerated, or 6 months frozen.