Ten years ago, the first black garlic was imported and sold by Anne Kuperus. It all started with an article on black garlic in the New York Times. Anne personally enjoys cooking and eating good food, and he therefore wanted to try this new product as well. When he couldn’t find it anywhere, he decided to have a kilogram shipped over from South Korea.
After he cooked with it, he started visiting local restaurants. The chefs were all wildly enthusiastic about the flavour, and they couldn’t wait to start cooking with the black garlic. After these positive responses, the website www.zwarteknoflook.nl was created, and the black garlic was ordered in larger volumes. The first contacts with wholesalers were carefully made. Ten years later, it’s become impossible to imagine kitchens without black garlic, and it’s available from catering wholesalers, retail and delicatessens throughout the country.
“Black garlic is created by putting white garlic in ovens for 16 days. The bulbs and cloves are heated between 50 and 90 degrees. Because of this heating process, the garlic ferments, and the sugars and amino acids react, producing melanoidin. This turns the garlic black and creates its completely new flavour. The garlic’s original flavour completely disappears to the background, and a flavour of soy with raisins and balsamic vinegar is produced. All of this without the smell of garlic,” Anne explains. “It’s a seasoning and flavour enhancer that fits any recipe, but it’s also delicious with some cheese or as a healthy snack. The antioxidants are nearly doubled during the process, and it can be better absorbed by the body.”
Kuperus Foods has been organically certified since 2016, so they can offer both conventional and organic products. In February 2019, they became GMP+ certified, so they can now also supply the animal feed industry with black garlic powder under the Sykulan® brand name, which they do because of the many health benefits of the black garlic, without leaving a smell. Black garlic is available in complete bulbs, peeled cloves, purée and powder, and various packaging are available as well.
For more information:
Anne Kuperus
Kuperus Foods
Apolloweg 197
8938 AT Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
Tel: +31 583 01 06 74
a.kuperus@kuperusfoods.com
www.kuperusfoods.com