大蒜，多年生草本植物，百合科葱属。地下鳞茎分瓣，按皮色不同分为紫皮种和白皮种。辛辣，有刺激性气味，可食用或供调味，亦可入药。大蒜种西汉时从西域传入我国，经人工栽培繁育深受大众喜食。
       
    陡沟大蒜：陡沟大蒜，俗称“齐头黑”，瓣大、皮薄、肉厚、味辣而甜。含维生素C、碳水化合物、及硫、磷、铁等多种营养，有消炎解毒、杀菌治痢、防治脑炎等功能。每年收获期，河北、内蒙、山西、湖北、山东及河南各地到陡沟购买大蒜的车辆络绎不绝，常被抢购一空。
       
    大蒜呈扁球形或短圆锥形，外面有灰白色或淡棕色膜质鳞皮，剥去鳞叶，内有6～10个蒜瓣，轮生于花茎的周围，茎基部盘状，生有多数须根。每一蒜瓣外包薄膜，剥去薄膜，即见白色、肥厚多汁的鳞片。有浓烈的蒜臭，味辛辣。
     
   大蒜营养丰富：每100克含水分69.8克，蛋白质4.4克，脂肪0.2克，碳水化合物23.6克，钙5毫克，磷44毫克，铁0.4毫克，维生素C3毫克。此外，还含有硫胺素、核黄素、尼克酸、蒜素、柠檬醛以及硒和锗等微量元素。含挥发油约0.2%，油中主要成分为大蒜辣素，具有杀菌作用，是大蒜中所含的蒜氨酸受大蒜酶的作用水解产生。尚含多种烯丙基、丙基和甲基组成的硫醚化合物等。
      
    大蒜性温，味辛平；入脾、胃、肺经。阴虚火旺及慢性胃炎溃疡病患者应慎食。外用能引起皮肤发红，灼热，起泡，故不宜敷之过久，皮肤过敏者慎用。



 

Dougou Garlic 

 
    Garlic belongs to herbaceos perennial, liliaceae and allium. It has separate underground bulbs and can be divided into two kinds according to skin color: purplish ones and white ones. It tastes pungent, smells penetrating and is edible or medicinal. Garlic was introduced into China from the Western Regions in Western Han Dynasty.
      
    Dougou garlic has big sections, thin skin, thick sarcocarp, pungent and sweet flavor. Besides, it contains vitamin C, carbohydrate, sulphur, phosphorus, ferrum and many other nutritious elements so that it can cure diseases of antiphlogistic, detoxification, sterilization, dysentery, encephalitis, etc. However, fire excess from yin deficiency, Chronic Gastritis and canker patients should be cautious to use. Besides, external use is likely to cause rubefaction, scorching hot, blister so we had better not apply it for a long time. In every harvest period, many merchants from Hebei, Neimenggu, Shanxi, Hubei, Shandong make a panic purchase in Dougou.