Chives

Name: Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) — slender, hollow, bright green leaves with a mild onion flavour, used as a fresh herb. The pale purple flowers are edible too. They are different from garlic chives, which have flat leaves and a garlicky taste.

Description

Chives grow wild across Europe, Asia and North America and have been used in cooking for at least 5,000 years. They are the smallest species of the edible onions, and are often grown on windowsills and in herb gardens. The name comes from the French cive, from the Latin word for onion.

Chives are one of the classic fines herbes of French cooking, and are a standard topping for baked potatoes, soured cream, omelettes, soups and smoked fish. Their flavour is delicate and fades with heat, so they are added at the end.

Main nutrition value

Chives are notable for vitamin K, with some vitamin C, vitamin A and folate, though they are eaten in small amounts so contribute modestly.

How best to be consumed

Chives are best used fresh and snipped, not cooked for long.

1. Snip with scissors rather than chopping, which bruises them.
2. Sprinkle over eggs, potatoes, soups, salads and soft cheese at the end of cooking.
3. Stir into soured cream, cream cheese or butter for dips and spreads.
4. Scatter the edible flowers over salads for colour.
5. Freeze chopped chives for later; they lose texture when dried.

Overconsumption could cause…

Chives are safe in food amounts.

1. Allergic reactions or skin irritation in a small number of people sensitive to alliums.
2. Stomach upset from very large amounts, though they are normally used sparingly.
3. Possible effects on blood clotting from their vitamin K for people on warfarin, so keep intake steady.
4. Toxicity to cats and dogs, so keep pets away from them.

GroupsAllium VegetablesFresh HerbsAllium (onion family)Low fatLow sodiumRich in folateRich in vitamin CRich in vitamin KFresh

Related foodsSpring Onion / ScallionSweet OnionWelsh OnionWhite OnionYellow OnionOnion

Wikipedia — Chives, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chives