Is garlic a fruit or vegetable?

Garlic is a vegetable bulb that belongs to the lily family and is a close relative to leeks, chives and onions. The bulb contains cloves that are arranged next to one another and covered in a paper-like skin; they are off-white in color, but they sometimes have a purplish hue.

Garlic bulbs and their inner cloves have a hard texture but can be squashed or cut open without much effort. Garlic also has a unique, pungent and sweet odor and taste that is unlike any other vegetable. They can be eaten freshly picked and are available in powdered and dry forms in grocery stores all year long.