What herb can you include in your backyard garden not only for its wonderful taste that it will add to your cooking but also be pleasing to the eye? Why, chives of course! Chives are a member of the allium family of herbs, which also includes shallots, leeks, onions, and garlic. Although similar to onions, chives don’t have quite as pungent a taste and smell, which makes them more versatile as an addition to food. The allium family is related to the lily and is known for its bulbous roots. When blooming, chive plants have beautiful lavender flowers that are sometimes used in bouquets.

To Your Health

Chives aren’t just good to eat; they are good for you, too. The herb contains rich concentrations of vitamins A and C along with calcium, iron, folic acid, and sulfur components. It has been said that ingesting chives can improve circulation and lower blood pressure. Like other members of the garlic family, chives contain powerful antioxidants which may reduce the incidence of colon, stomach, esophagus, and endometrial cancers. Chives are high in fiber as well. But using chives for holistic purposes goes far back to much earlier times. The ancient Romans are known to have utilized chives to soothe sore throats.

Here’s another interesting nugget of information about chives. They are an inexpensive and chemical-free way to alleviate mosquito and other bugs from biting. The juice from chives is used as an insect repellent and also as a salve to speed healing from cuts and wounds.

If you have rosebushes but are concerned about pests nibbling at your beautiful roses, plant some chive plants nearby. The strong onion-like smell from the herbs will repel aphids and other bugs away from your prized roses.

Chives in History

Like other herbs, chives have a long history. They date back at least 5,000 years. During his travels, Marco Polo tasted chives and then brought them home to Europe where their popularity spread. Romans adopted chives to their cuisine and gypsies used them to predict fortunes.

Choosing and Using the Best Chives

When selecting chives pick those that have firm, fresh, green leaves. Avoid any that look wilted, soft, or are changing color. Rinse them well under cool water to remove any dirt. Because chives are fairly easy to grow, they can be cultivated in your own vegetable or herb garden with minimal effort. Chives tend to be quite hardy and tolerate low levels of rain.

It is best to use chives fresh, but they can be dried and frozen. Dried chives lose their distinctive scent. Because of their milder onion-like taste, chives are a great ingredient to add to soups, omelettes, and to flavor dips and mayonnaise. Chives are often paired with potatoes in soups. Additionally, chives add a great taste and splash of color when chopped and used as a garnish for mashed or baked potatoes. Chives are best used raw because they tend to lose their taste when cooked. If you do plan to cook with them, add them at the last minute so that they don’t overcook. Although most people tend to only use the green leaves, the entire chive from leaf to bulb is edible.

Final Thought

The next time you need to tie up a puff pastry or a dumpling, use chives. They can turn these little darlings into adorable packages. Also, chives add that last bit of class and sophistication when chopped and sprinkled atop soup, salad, vegetables or egg dishes. They make a healthy looking garnish on plates. You can also use the pretty lavender flowers as a garnish since they are edible. Chives add a touch and taste of springtime to your foods at any time during the year.