Dried Chives

What are chives?

Allium schoenoprasum, the chive plant, is related to onions (Alliaceae). This plant is an attractive garden perennial because it has lavender flowers, grows in clumps, and can survive in cold weather.  It has hollow leaves that look like grass and taste like mild onions. These leaves are often used in salads and dips. The tiny flowers start to bloom in late May or early June. You can eat these and put them in salads, or you can use them to make flower arrangements.

One of the easiest herbs to grow is chives. They do best when planted in full sun in rich, well-drained soil, but they can handle light shade (though they may not flower as much) and most types of soil. It's simple to grow them from seeds or pieces of plants. Seeds can be started indoors a few weeks before the average date of the last frost and then planted outside after the danger of frost has passed, or they can be planted directly into warm soil. Separate the groups by 12 to 20 inches. Since they have shallow roots, be careful when working around them, or use mulch to keep weeds away. Once they are established, chives can survive in dry conditions, but they will grow best if they are kept moist. Fertilize them sparingly, as they require minimal nutrients. Plants should be split every two to three years so they don't get too close together. There should be at least 5 bulblets in each division. Chives don't have any big problems with pests or diseases, and neither deer nor rabbits like to eat them.

How do I use chives?

Chives are ideal for incorporation into soups, sauces, pureed or roasted potatoes, fish, marine dishes, and omelets due to their milder flavor. Add scallions to dishes just before serving, as heat destroys their delicate flavor.

Chives benefits:

Chives are small plants with bulbs. They are the smallest onion family members. You can use this small vegetable in various ways and it offers numerous health benefits. Chives are often used as a garnish because they add flavor and color to soups, nachos, and other tasty foods. In addition to adding flavor to food, chives offer numerous health benefits.

◉ Improve heart health: Chives help keep arteries from getting hard. Eating the herb can lower the bad cholesterol in the body. Allicin helps the heart send blood to all the other organs in the body in the best way possible. Chives also have potassium, which helps keep heart failure, heart attacks, and high blood pressure from happening.

◉ Promote Healthy Skin: Beta-carotene, which is found in chives, helps keep skin clear and smooth. Beta-carotene can also help get rid of acne. Furthermore, chives are full of vitamins C and E, which are antioxidants that protect against damage from the sun. Vitamin C also makes the skin more flexible, which improves the blood flow.

◉ Foster Healthy Hair: Chive juice has many benefits for healthy hair, such as making hair grow faster and stopping hair loss that isn't necessary. Flavonoids, vitamin C, germanium, and antioxidants all help get more blood to the scalp, which not only makes hair grow faster but also makes it thicker.

◉ Improve Vision: Including chives in your diet can help you see better. Besides vitamins C and E, chives also have vitamin A, which helps your eyes see clearly and sharply. Compared to other vegetables, chives have a lot more vitamin A than any other food. The green stalks have antioxidants that help you see well and keep the optic nerve healthy.

Where can I buy chives?

Buy chives from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Chives information (at a glance):