Allium sativum, also known as garlic, is a widely cultivated species native to Central Asia and north-eastern Iran. A member of the Amaryllidaceae family, it is prized for its strong-tasting bulbs, made up of several cloves. Garlic is a staple in cuisines the world over, and has a variety of applications beyond nutraceuticals. In gardening, garlic can deter pests and has historically been used for its supposed supernatural protective properties. Curiously, the ancient Egyptians revered garlic and offered it as food to the workers building the pyramids.