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PGI — Midi-Pyrénées
In the rolling hills of Lomagne, between Gers and Tarn-et-Garonne, white garlic ripens through the summer before drying 'on bars', suspended in the vent d'Autan — a farming tradition documented since the 13th century, now a PGI (IGP).
Vegetable from Midi-Pyrénées, PGI (IGP) since 2008.
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The earliest written record of garlic cultivation in Lomagne dates back to 6 September 1265: a deed mentions gardening dues on the cultivation of leeks, garlic, onions, cabbages and broad beans in the village of Gariès. Long grown for subsistence, this crop took on a commercial dimension in the 19th century: an 1864 agricultural memoir awarded a prize by the Société des sciences, agriculture et belles-lettres de Montauban already estimated the income the canton of Beaumont derived from its garlic, and a 1902 census recorded 80 hectares under cultivation in the commune of Beaumont-de-Lomagne alone. Acreage then expanded steadily throughout the 20th century, rising from 200 hectares in 1916 to 2,810 hectares in 1980.
From 1958 onwards, the garlic growers' union mobilised to select quality garlic according to precise commercial criteria. In 1965, the first sales cooperative, COOP AIL, was established, and the union officially registered the trademark 'Ail de Beaumont-de-Lomagne'. The physical market in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, where garlic had already been traded since 1936, accounted for a quarter of national dry garlic sales by the early 1970s — a record that still earns it top spot in the country for this trade today. Around this momentum, the early 1960s saw the creation of a competition for the finest garlic sheaf (1961), followed by an annual fair-competition organised with the Comice agricole and the municipality of Beaumont-de-Lomagne (1963) — still held every year at the September fair — as well as garlic brotherhoods in Beaumont, Lavit and Saint-Clar. This grassroots recognition culminated in official consecration in 2008: the European Commission registered 'Ail blanc de Lomagne' as a PGI under the regulation of 10 December 2008, published in the Official Journal of the European Union the following 11 December.
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The production area spans 200 communes straddling Gers (154 communes) and Tarn-et-Garonne (46 communes), bordered to the north-west by the Baïse and to the north-east by the Garonne. It corresponds to the agricultural region of Lomagne, defined in 1958 by INSEE and the Ministry of Agriculture on the basis of pedoclimatic homogeneity. The relief features rolling hills furrowed by valleys and thalwegs, over Miocene molasse formations; the resulting soils — calcareous brown soils of clay-loam to silty-clay texture, a metre or more deep — offer good drainage and deep rooting, while a dry climate swept by the vent d'Autan fosters the natural drying of the bulbs. Today, Ail blanc de Lomagne comes mainly from two local varieties, Corail and Jolimont, developed in 1970 through mass selection carried out on traditional 'Blanc de Lomagne' populations.
Appearance
Round, regular bulb with a minimum calibre of 45 mm, white to ivory white in colour, sometimes marked with a violet flame; 8 to 12 tight cloves (caïeux), beige to cream in colour, sometimes streaked with violet, each enclosed in a single skin; roots trimmed flush with the bulb.
Taste
Eaten raw, finely sliced or crushed, a persistent taste and aromas due to the presence of sulphur compounds.
Texture
Roasted or cooked in its skin, it becomes tender and its aromas mellow.
authorised varieties (Corail, Jolimont, Messidrôme, Thermidrôme), minimum 75% certified seed.
in autumn, on clay-limestone soils selected for their depth and drainage.
at optimal maturity, within the geographical area, around Saint John's Day.
manual, removing tarnished or torn outer skins.
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Ail blanc de Lomagne is equally suited to being eaten raw or cooked: finely sliced or crushed, it reveals powerful, lingering sulphur aromas; roasted in its skin or confit, it softens and mellows. Local tradition pairs it with tourin, a garlic soup typical of the South-West, and galinail, a garlic-stuffed chicken served during the garlic festival of Beaumont-de-Lomagne, celebrated every year on the last Sunday of July. The defence association's website also features more contemporary recipes, such as aubergine accras with garlic and coriander, a brioche perdue with floc de Gascogne accompanied by pan-seared Gers foie gras with dried fruit, or a noisette of lamb with garlic cream and trompettes de la mort.
Since: 2008
Area covered: 200 communes du Gers et du Tarn-et-Garonne (154 dans le Gers, 46 dans le Tarn-et-Garonne), formant l'aire agricole historique de la Lomagne
Key requirements: Corail, Jolimont, Messidrôme or Thermidrôme varieties; minimum 75% certified seed; cultivation, harvesting, drying, peeling, sorting and approval carried out within the geographical area; harvested at optimal maturity; minimum calibre 45 mm; full traceability from field to dispatch (crop log, delivery slips, approval sheets)
Specification amended and republished by order of 28 June 2017, amendment approved by the European Commission with effect from 8 February 2018.
Association
Cooperative
Craft industry
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Request a listingCooperative
Top Alliance, a 100% commercial subsidiary of the Alinéa cooperative, is one of the trading operators based in Beaumont-de-Lomagne cited in the product specification for the PGI (IGP) ‘Ail blanc de Lomagne’ among the main French garlic merchants active in the commune. Established in 1997 as an extension of the Alinéa cooperative (founded in 1960), the organisation handles the marketing of produce from 160 member growers to major retailers, wholesalers, the foodservice sector, industry, and export.
Rooted in the South-West garlic, onion, and shallot production basin, Top Alliance provides the link between the work of the growers and market requirements, with a stated environmental commitment since 2004.
The company's website highlights the marketing of three garlics bearing official quality marks: ail blanc de Lomagne (PGI), ail rose de Lautrec — of which it claims to be the leading French marketer with 1,400 tonnes annually, including 500 tonnes under Label Rouge — and ail violet de Cadours (PDO (AOP)).
| Address | Borde Vieille, 82500 Beaumont-de-Lomagne, France |
| +33 5 63 26 28 00 | |
| contact@topalliance.com | |
| topalliance.com | |
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Part of the production is certified organic, since 2007. |
Craft industry
Jardins du Midi, founded in 1936 by the Duran family in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, is one of the merchant operators cited in the specifications of the PGI (IGP) « Ail blanc de Lomagne » among the main French garlic merchants active in the commune. The firm, today a brand of Groupe Les Halles Mandar (integrated in 2011), works with nearly 200 French partner growers, including 135 specialising in garlic, alongside onions and shallots.
Established from the outset in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, France's leading garlic-producing area, the company has expanded its operations over the decades — introducing onions and shallots in the 1960s, expanding into supermarkets under the « Jardins du Midi » brand in the 1980s, and later distributing ranges tailored to the catering sector.
| Address | 134 Quartier Delor, 82500 Sérignac, France |
| +33 5 63 65 36 00 | |
| jardinsdumidi.com | |
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Part of the production is certified organic, since 2001. |
