As the name suggests, garlic pepper is a seasoning that combines ground black pepper and dried garlic. Combining the two makes sense – food tastes great with garlic and pepper. Together, they can introduce a spicy profile in food that has layers of flavors. So instead of reaching out for two containers, now all you need is this very useful seasoning and condiment.
Garlic Pepper Trivia
- Different cultures all around the world use garlic not just for culinary purposes but for medicinal purposes as well.
- Don’t worry if other people comment that you have a lot of garlic pepper on your pantry or cupboard. Tell them that during the Middle Ages, the stock of pepper at home indicates a man’s wealth.
- November is National Pepper Month, and April 19 is National Garlic Day. Unfortunately, there is no National Garlic Pepper Day (or month) – but who knows in the future, right?
Garlic Pepper Buying Guide
Check the item carefully before paying for it at the counter. Check if the plastic bottle has dents or if it is misshapen in some way. Check the glass bottle if it has cracks or damages. Check the cap shrink wrap if it is missing or broken. This is usually not a good sign because this could mean that the product is damaged or tampered with or at least failed the product quality requirements (which includes being sealed before it is sent to supermarkets and groceries to be sold).
When buying garlic and pepper, go local. Visit the farmers market, where local, small businesses set up shop to meet customers and sell their goods. If there are local makers of garlic and pepper in your area, there is a good chance you will find them here.
Garlic Pepper is available all year, so there is no reason to buy more than enough.
Garlic Pepper Production & Farming in Texas
Texas grows garlic and pepper all year long. Supply of garlic and pepper to make garlic pepper is available from local sources.
Production of garlic pepper involves drying and crushing garlic and pepper to the desired grainy or powdering consistency. These are mixed and most of the time, other ingredients are added for the sake of flavor and shelf life. Sometimes, garlic pepper is not just garlic and pepper. It may also contain brown sugar, even parsley, onion, celery, or bell pepper flakes. It could also contain a humectant. A humectant is a common food additive found in garlic and pepper.
Many local small businesses in Texas make spices, condiments, and rubs like garlic pepper, like Texas Custom Spice Company in Houston, Chappell Hill Sausage Company in Chappell Hill, Obie-Cue’s Texas Spice Company in Azle, La India’s Roasted Garlic Pepper Seasoning in Laredo, Texas, Zach’s Spice from Deer Park, and John Henry’s Mojave Garlic Pepper Rub from East Texas.
Even H-E-B, an American privately held supermarket chain based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 340 stores throughout Texas and northeast Mexico, makes its garlic pepper.
Food additive:
Garlic pepper contains humectant, which is a hygroscopic substance. It is used in garlic pepper so that it won’t crust or stick together and retain its grain/powdery form.
Geography:
There is very little literature about garlic pepper, and there is no specific information regarding when it was first made, who mixed garlic and pepper as a grainy, powdery mix, and when.
Many garlic and pepper products sold in the market today are made in the US. But there are also companies outside of the US that have garlic and pepper. Buying from vendors outside of the US is easier and convenient now because of online stores and online selling.
Packaging
Garlic pepper is sold in plastic or glass bottles that serve the purpose of storage as well as a dispenser. The packaging includes cap shrink wrap for product safety and a label to make sure consumers are provided with the information they need, like ingredients, nutritional information, batch number, location of production and manufacturing, etc. You can also find garlic pepper sold in plastic refill packs or pouches, as well as in a resealable, moisture-proof aluminum-lined stand-up plastic or paper bag with a valve zipper.
Enjoying Garlic Pepper
Garlic pepper, like the popular table condiment salt and pepper, is used as a table condiment, usually used to add spice or flavor to cooked food especially for people who want their food with a strong garlic and pepper taste.
Garlic pepper is a great seasoning or condiment to use for a variety of everyday ordinary food, like spaghetti, garlic bread, salads, baked potatoes, and many more.
Some say it is a substitute for salt and pepper, but if you can have both on the table or the pantry, that will be so much better since salt and pepper is used if you are looking for a mix of saltiness and peppery taste, while garlic pepper is used to put or intensify the garlicky and peppery taste of the food.
Storage:
A bottle of garlic pepper is shelf-stable. You can keep it in the pantry, cupboard, on the counter, or in the spice cabinet. There is no need to refrigerate it. Just make sure the bottle is closed to protect the contents from contaminants. If your garlic pepper is in a bag or pouch, it is better if you can transfer it in a container with a lid. If it has a valve zipper that allows you to close the pouch, just make sure not to leave it open when you are not using it.
Cooking:
When used in cooking, garlic pepper helps put flavor in different dishes, like broths, stews, casseroles, soups, and sauces. You can also use garlic pepper to prepare the food you plan to cook; use it as a rub or include it in your marinade for your barbecue or roasted meats.
Nutritional Benefits:
Using garlic pepper in your feed means you get to enjoy the nutritional benefits of consuming garlic and pepper. Garlic contains manganese, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium, fiber, calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. Eating garlic helps the body fight against common colds. Garlic helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and improve bone health. Peppers, on the other hand, contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamin C. Peppers help minimize the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, anemia, and memory loss. It also helps protect against chronic diseases and helps lower blood sugar levels.
