I have a bottle of Moutai (made from sorghum) and regard it as the most undrinkable alcoholic drink I have encountered. It is however claimed to be the world’s best selling spirit. Perhaps my mistake is not to eat raw garlic before tasting it. Thank you for the information about the present consumption of garlic in China. I think it is a very healthy food but feel sure that Moutai counters, or more than counters, its good effects. I believe China is also the world’s largest garlic producer.

Thank you for the offer – but we have a good stock of (home-grown) elephant garlic. After eating a handful it is best to speak to someone who has not done the same, in a suitable place.

Understandable, but have you tried eating a whole clove of raw garlic? This used to be very popular in China and it probably still is in country areas. It is a powerful broad-spectrum antibiotic.

Yes, yes, yes. There is a much better way of making food taste nice and look nice: herbs. In medieval Europe, salt, meat, fish and honey were very expensive. So the rich had too much of them and the poor had hardly any. The main things poor people ate were beans, peas, cabbage and bread. The taste must have been awful – so they added large quantities of herbs. Onions, leeks and garlic were also popular and for the same reason. I know that Chinese people used to eat raw garlic as well as using it in cooking. Perhaps the habit should be revived? They say garlic is a very healthy food, even if it is not wonderful for your breath!