Summary
Police in Saxony, Germany, uncovered an illegal wild garlic harvesting ring, seizing 100 kg of bulbs worth thousands of euros.
Six suspects, including repeat offenders, were caught in two separate vehicles with bags of the protected plant.
Wild garlic, prized in cooking, can only be collected in small amounts for personal use under German law. Large-scale theft is a recurring issue.
The suspects are now under investigation for gang theft.
Call them what they are: Poachers.
And probably roasters and aioli makers too.
why is that illegal? The article says that picking it naturally can be dangerous because it looks like some poisonous plants, so why not just let them grow it normally? or better yet since apparently it’s invasive, why not a dedicated farm?
Wild garlic (Allium ursinum, German: Bärlauch) is a native plant and not invasive in Germany. It’s not like it’s everywhere as it usually needs alluvial, deciduous forests but common enough that most locals usually know a spot or two. It may look like lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis, German: Maiglöckchen) or autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale, German: Herbstzeitlose) which are both poisonous but that’s not the reason why you’re not allowed to pick large amounts. The Federal Nature Protection Law (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz, see paragraph 39 for details) forbids the collection of any wild plants or animals, independent of their protection status to disturb natural processes as little as possible. However certain exemptions are possible, think hunting, fishing, or the collection of wild herbs for example. While the former two require a license and are restricted to certain area or seasons, the latter is limited by the amount you may take. It explicitly states to only take amounts that are for personal use and that commercial collection is prohibited. It’s obviously to prevent overexploitation. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon that naturally occurring stocks of wild herbs, mushrooms or berries are used up and destroyed by illegal and unsustainable usage. Also, yes wild herbs are commercially grown on farms but as you can imagine, they don’t come cheap at all.
Wild garlic is to die for. I remember the first time I had it was on a trip to england, wentall over but down in cornwall the stuff grows like weeds, so whenever I was walking I grabbed a bunch and chomped away, 2 days later everyone woke up to the fine scent of garlic… I was barred from eating any more wild garlic for the rest if the trip
You just ate garlic straight? Never heard of that.
It’s good, plus as a person with pale skin it acts a social signal to reassure others in my presence that I am not in fact a vampire
Wild garlic is more like onion chives, but smell like garlic
The fuck? I thought this was an onion article.
It’s pretty clearly a garlic article.
So if it can only be collected in small amounts and it’s in such high demand why isn’t more grown?
Because then it wouldn’t be wild garlic any more, would it? 😝
