The Many Faces of Garlic: From Beloved Seasoning to Cross-Industry Star

From the irresistible aroma of garlic chips to the umami richness of steamed scallops with garlic sauce, or the savory notes of garlic-infused olive oil—these culinary delights all owe their flavor magic to garlic deep processing.

Think garlic is just a kitchen seasoning? Think again. Its processed forms have long gone beyond the stove, making their way into the food and beverage industry, health supplements, personal care, and even agriculture and industrial applications. Garlic has truly become a daily essential—both as a flavor powerhouse and a health defender.

Let’s explore how this “national seasoning” of China is unlocking innovation across diverse fields.

A Flavor Storm on the Palate: Garlic in Food Processing

Processed garlic ingredients are incredibly versatile in food production—enhancing aroma, improving flavor, and even providing antibacterial and preservative benefits. From snacks to ready meals, garlic plays a starring role.

Snacks

Chips & crisps: A dusting of garlic powder or a spritz of garlic oil, with salt and chili—instantly addictive. Classic examples include Lay’s “Roasted Garlic Chicken” and Oishi’s “Garlic Shrimp Sticks.”

Nuts & roasted seeds: Roasted peanuts or sunflower seeds with garlic seasoning are savory and crunchy. Brands like Three Squirrels (garlic peanuts) and Ganyuan (garlic green peas) are fan favorites.

Jerky & dried seafood: Garlic paste or extract helps remove off-flavors and extends shelf life. Traditional pork jerky from Jingjiang and pre-seasoned garlic yellow croaker are great examples.

Ready-to-Eat Foods

Prepared meals & instant noodles: Garlic sauces and powders in seasoning packs define the flavor profile. Products like Haodelai’s “Garlic Chicken Wings” and Nissin’s “Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen” highlight the impact.

Hot pot ingredients: Minced garlic in hot pot bases or stuffed into fish or shrimp balls enhances taste. Items like Haidilao’s garlic hot pot base and frozen garlic pork ribs bring extra punch to hot pot meals.

Baked Goods

Breads & biscuits: Dough enriched with garlic powder or garlic oil pairs perfectly with cheese and butter. Think freshly baked garlic baguettes or Panpan’s soft garlic buns—simply irresistible.

Savory crackers: Garlic-flavored crackers seasoned with a blend of salt and spices offer a crispy, flavorful bite. Brands like McVitie’s and Totaste offer tea-time garlic snacks with a twist.

Garlic’s Kitchen Revolution: The Flavor Engine in Seasonings

From garlic powders to pastes, oils, and sauces, processed garlic is a key player in modern kitchens—both for home cooks and professional chefs.

Blended Seasonings

Sprinkle blends: Essential for barbecue or fried chicken—garlic powder mixed with salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Products like McCormick’s Garlic BBQ Rub and Jimeizi’s Garlic Chicken Seasoning are popular for convenience.

Versatile sauces: Salad dressings and dipping sauces with garlic oil or paste bring bold flavor. Try Kewpie’s Garlic Salad Dressing or Lee Kum Kee’s Garlic Chili Sauce for East-meets-West flair.

Hot pot dips: Minced garlic is the soul of sesame oil-based dipping sauces. Fresh chopped garlic at Haidilao’s self-serve station or Liupo’s dry garlic dip enhances every bite.

Sauce Staples

Garlic pastes & chili sauces: Perfect for noodles, stir-fries, and seafood. Liming’s Garlic Chili Sauce and Rujixiangju’s garlic-flavored enoki mushrooms are kitchen essentials.

Garlic oil sauces: A mix of garlic oil and plant-based oil, used in meal kits and instant foods. Examples include Uni-President’s garlic pork rice and Master Kong’s garlic beef noodles.

Garlic Oil & Juices

Garlic oil: Adds depth to stir-fries, cold dishes, and food manufacturing. Products like Luhua’s garlic peanut oil and imported garlic olive oils elevate everyday ingredients.

Garlic juice & marinades: Used for meat marination and kimchi bases. Seasoning products like Weidamei’s garlic marinade or garlic-infused kimchi juices offer convenience and flavor.

Garlic’s Health Frontier: Dietary Supplements & Functional Foods

Beyond taste, garlic’s antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-regulating properties have made it a popular ingredient in health and wellness.

Nutritional Supplements

Garlic extract capsules/tablets: Rich in allicin, these target immunity and cardiovascular health. Swisse’s Garlic Capsules and Nature’s Bounty Garlic Tablets are trusted options.

Fermented garlic extracts: Lactobacillus fermentation reduces pungency while preserving benefits. Japan’s black garlic + honey drink and Chinese fermented garlic powder are gentler on the stomach and nourishing.

Black garlic products: Transformed through fermentation, with boosted antioxidant power! Enjoy them as-is (like “Suanleba” black garlic), or made into black garlic gummies and pastries—delicious and healthy.

Functional Foods

Probiotic drinks: Combining garlic extract and probiotics (e.g., lactic acid bacteria) for digestive support. Korea’s fermented garlic yogurt drink, blending garlic and fruit flavors, is a unique innovation.

Garlic Goes Cross-Industry: Personal Care & Industrial Use

Garlic’s value extends well beyond the kitchen. Its natural active compounds make it useful in personal care, agriculture, and animal health.

Personal Care Products

Skincare: Garlic extract is used for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, especially in acne care and anti-hair loss formulas. Korea’s Garlic Facial Cleanser and Germany’s Beyouson Black Garlic Hair Tonic showcase the trend.

Cleansing products: Garlic oil’s antimicrobial properties inspire soaps and body washes, particularly for oily skin or summer use. Korean handmade garlic oil soap, often paired with tea tree oil, balances cleansing with natural care.

Agricultural & Industrial Uses

Feed additives: Garlic powder or extracts can replace some antibiotics in animal feed, improving immunity and meat quality. Products like aquatic garlic premixes and swine garlic attractants support sustainable farming.

Botanical pesticides: Sulfur compounds in garlic can be formulated into eco-friendly insecticides for organic farming. Commercial garlic-based emulsifiable concentrates are a green alternative for pest control.

From flavor-enhancing snacks and sauces to health-boosting supplements and eco-conscious products, garlic’s deep-processed derivatives have become a key part of modern life. More than just a spice, garlic is now a powerful connector between taste, wellness, and sustainability.

As technology evolves and consumer preferences shift, this humble bulb is poised to unleash even more surprising garlic-powered innovations.