The humble garlic clove is a bona fide superstar. Nearly every culture in the world loves what garlic brings to the table, but the roots of garlic history go much deeper than a way to punch up pasta sauce.

Here are just a few of the major milestones in garlic history:

4000 BCE
Ancient farmers in central Asia began cultivating garlic for its flavor and the belief that it was an aphrodisiac.
430 BCE
The Greeks use garlic to enhance athletic performance. They believed it could boost strength and stamina.
1780s 
Chicago is settled by Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. The name Chicago is derived from the local Indian word chicagoua, which stands for the native garlic plant that grew abundantly in the area.
1897
Bram Stoker publishes Dracula, enshrining garlic as everyone’s go-to vampire repellent.
1914 
In an era before antibiotics, British soldiers in WWI use garlic to promote the healing of wounds.
Today 
Around 25M tonnes of garlic are produced each year – that’s the weight of 75 Empire State Buildings.

Hard to believe some people avoid garlic. On National Garlic Day, let’s put bad breath-phobias aside and celebrate by joyfully devouring as much garlic as we can. We may be making ourselves healthier, stronger, happier and repelling certain evil blood suckers. Couldn’t hurt.

UberEATS is available in 50+ cities–so we’re likely to be in yours. Open your UberEATS app now or visit our website and find the perfect garlic-y goodies for any celebration!