They have a deeper, more full-bodied flavor than softnecks. Their loose skins, however, give rise to their major disadvantage, a shorter storage life than most other varieties. By the end of January most Rocamboles show signs of dehydration or begin to sprout.
Longer storage is possible if bulbs are well grown and well cured before storage.
Rocamboles are easily identified by their distinctive flower stalks. No other garlic variety forms tight loops of 1 to 3 coils shortly after the stalks appear. The stalks later lose their coils and stand straight up as they turn woody. Other ophio varieties have flower stalks, but they form wild and random coils or broad sweeping curls and arches rather than tight coils. Rocambole leaves are broad in width and relatively closely spaced.