While a close cousin of garlic has grown in North America for hundreds of years, garlic as the culinary staple we know now, didn’t arrive in North America until the 17th century. French, Spanish, and Portuguese explorers are credited with introducing garlic to North America.
In Eastern medicine, garlic was used to aid digestion, resolve respiratory ailments, fight fatigue - even combat depression. And, in popular folklore, garlic was used to ward off evil spirits and protect people and homes from vampires and werewolves. Its powers were believed to be so powerful that it was hung on windows, over doors, and rubbed in chimneys and keyholes - anywhere it was thought evil could enter a home.
The garlic plant is resilient. It grows almost anywhere, stores for long periods of time, and is susceptible to few pests or diseases. Not to mention the fact that many cultures find garlic absolutely delicious! Part of garlic’s popularity since it was discovered thousands of years ago can be attributed to its many social uses: culinary, medicinal, and folkloric.
https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/madison-wi/vegetable-crops-research/docs/simon-garlic-origins/