Allium tricoccum, the ramp, or wild
leek, is native to the
Appalachian region of
North America.
Native Americans had used ramps in food and for medicinal purposes long before
European settlers came to America. The settlers found a plant that resembled an English wild garlic,
Allium ursinium, and applied its folk name,
ramson, to the new plant. This eventially became "ramp".
Ramps can be used anywhere you would use leeks; however, they have an extremely strong
onion-y/
garlic-y taste.
The taste is so strong that the eating of raw ramps is a demonstration of
mountain machismo. Ramps are such a part of Appalachian culture that several counties in
Tennessee,
North Carolina,
Virginia, and
West Virginia hold annual ramp festivals featuring ramp-eating contests.