Poondu, lahsun in Hindi, is garlic, a bulb domesticated in Central Asia and now one of India’s most used flavourings. India grows it mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, and Kodaikanal malai poondu, a hill garlic, holds a geographical indication. Crushing garlic releases allicin, which gives its sharp smell. Small trials show garlic can modestly lower blood pressure.
- Botanical name
- Allium sativum L.
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Tamil
- Poondu
- Hindi
- Lahsun
- Sanskrit
- Laśuna
- Parts used
- Bulb, Sometimes green leaves
- Habit
- Cultivated bulb of the onion family
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Poondu
It is a perennial grown as an annual, with flat, narrow, grey-green leaves.
The bulb is made of several cloves wrapped in papery white or purple skins.
Some types send up a curling flower stalk, called a scape, ending in tiny bulbils and a few flowers.
Cultivated garlic rarely sets seed and is planted from cloves.
Onion forms a single bulb of layers, not separate cloves.
Traditional use of Poondu
Kitchen
Garlic is fried in ghee or oil as the base of dal tadka, rasam, chutneys and pickles.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
Poondu kuzhambu, whole cloves in tamarind gravy, is a Tamil home dish.
Tamil food practice
Ayurveda
Lashuna is used in Ayurveda for digestion and joint pain.
Ayurvedic practice
Modern notes on Poondu
Allicin forms when the enzyme alliinase meets alliin as garlic is crushed or chopped.
Reviews of trials report modest drops in blood pressure with garlic supplements.
Garlic can increase bleeding risk with blood-thinning medicines.
Some Hindu and Jain traditions avoid garlic in food.
Poondu safety
Stop garlic supplements before surgery and ask a doctor if you take blood thinners. Raw garlic left on skin can cause burns. Garlic is toxic to dogs and cats.
Ecology and sourcing
It was domesticated in Central Asia.
It needs cool weather to form bulbs.
It is grown as a winter crop on the Indian plains.
Related plants
Also in Amaryllidaceae
Questions about Poondu
Why does crushed garlic smell stronger?
Crushing releases allicin.
Does garlic lower blood pressure?
Modestly, in trials.
What is malai poondu?
Hill garlic from Kodaikanal.
Is garlic safe for pets?
No.
Can garlic be grown from a clove?
Yes. That is how it is planted.
Sources
- Allium sativum L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q23400 (Allium sativum)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.