14 DAY TRIAL // This year's World Garlic Eating Competition took place in the village of Chideock in Dorset, UK, this past weekend, and its winner was 34-year-old David Greenman.
To take home the trophy, David Greenman gulped down almost 3 dozen raw cloves of Iberian garlic in just 60 seconds, media reports say.
To help put things into perspective, it need be said that this type of garlic produces a fairly big bulb whose taste is described as especially strong.
How the competition played out
According to Mirror, David Greenman was crowned the winner of this year's World Garlic Eating Competition after managing to gulp down as many as 33 cloves in 60 seconds.
This landed him not just a shiny cup, which the man can be seen holding in the photo accompanying this article, but also ₤100 (about €125 / $162). On the downside, he probably had to spend the money on toothpaste.
Interestingly enough, it appears that the only reason 34-year-old David Greenman stopped eating garlic was that his designated minute was up. Thus, word has it that the man was ready and willing to go on gulping down garlic cloves.
“It was only running out of time that stopped him. He came to the contest alone, which is just as well,” the event's organizer, 50-year-old Mark Botwright, told the press in an interview.
“Iberian garlic is really the only variety that is anywhere near palatable when eaten raw. It was only picked a few days ago so is was at its freshest for the contest, and would usually be really hot,” he went on to explain.
Despite eating this many cloves of Iberian garlic, David Greenman did not get sick. What's more, he experienced no burns to his mouth whatsoever. Still, witnesses say that he did make some seriously funny faces during the competition.
As impressive as this man's achievement might sound, it looks like David Greenman is by no means the ultimate champion when it comes to eating loads of garlic. The current world record is held by last year's winner Ollie Farmer, who ate a whopping 49 cloves during the competition.
So, what's the deal with this World Garlic Eating Competition?
Apparently, the first World Garlic Eating Competition ever was held last year, also in Dorset, UK. As mentioned, the event is the brainchild of Mark Botwright from the South West Garlic Farm, who sees this competition as an opportunity for people to get together and have some fun.
Interestingly enough, the World Garlic Eating Competition doubles as charity event. Thus, money raised during this competition is donated to groups and organizations whose members and supporters are in the business of making Dorset a better place.