Chive

Chives: inevitable in the kitchen!

Generally known as chives, Allium schoenoprasum is an herb among the most used, famous for its intense and firm flavor.

The plant is quite small, its measures vary between 20 and 25 cm. It has tubular leaves that reach 40 cm; quite erect and empty inside, these have some pink dots on the top, a kind of pompon.

Because of these flowers, often chives is used as an ornamental plant, to be placed nicely in simple jars on the windowsill or in small jute bags.

If, however, this type of Allium Schoenoprasum is grown with culinary purposes, it is best to cut the inflorescences, already at the beginning of their formation, so as to avoid waste of nutrients, and thus promote the growth of additional leaves.

Chives are a perennial plant, rustic, native of Europe, Asia and North America, which grows in wet meadows up to 2500 m but it is also very common in domestic gardens on the windowsills at home. A housewife can not miss this touch of aromatic spices from the small private backyard.

Chives: instructions for use and cultivation

In order for the chives to grow in the best way, it requires a rather moist and fresh soil, with regular and plentiful watering.

The optimal position for a luxuriant growth is in a sunny area or at best in partial shade; in this way the leaves are formed again even faster.

For its use in the kitchen is best to cut the chives with a knife or scissors, to just over an inch from the base, possibly consuming it fresh.
Chives has a small bulb with grayish coatings.

To perform the transplant of the bulbs we must use pots with soil richer than the one previously used for bedding or these can be multiplied by division of clumps, but only with adult specimen.

Known since antiquity, chives was already used by the Romans, hence the name, which refers to the classic form of the reed.

Used in Northern Europe as grass against the evil eye, this aromatic plant actually has many therapeutic properties: stimulant, digestive, purifying and antiseptic.

It is often endeavored, in a suitable mixture with other ingredients, for the realization of herbal teas and infusions.

To storage chives you must proceed to the direct cut of the foliage then reduce it into small rings and freeze it in measured portions to be used during the winter if you do not have enough space for indoor cultivation.

Conservation of chives

On the market there are some attractive containers can prolong the freshness of chives and other freshly picked herbs.

Tescoma, for example, shows in the line Sense, a handy container of durable transparent plastic.

Dishwasher safe, Sense has a design studied to also be stored in plain sight, on some shelf in our kitchen.

Of the same company there is also a series of pots and containers set for direct cultivation, with lots of organic soil of medium texture and seed.

Aromatic plants: variations on a theme

And if your character is prone to experimentation, then you will surely find interesting the aromatic architectures by Koppert Cress.
The Dutch company, specializing in the research and manufacture of innovative natural ingredients for cooking, produces a series of aromatic plants of all kinds, also rather rare.

These are small intensely flavored vegetables, which are grown on a substrate made of natural fibers.
Among the most interesting Scarlet Cress, which reminds the taste of the red beet and Rock Chives, very decorative and much like chives.


Rock Chives® is the trademark of Koppert Cress for an edible plant characterized by small black seeds on the tip of watercress, which gives the product a pleasant personality.
In fact it is a variety of chives coming from the mountainous regions of South East Asia where it is used in many dishes, for its delicate and refined flavor.

The taste recalls, in a far more polite way, the garlic and it is enhanced with oil or Greek tzatziki sauce and usually with many dishes of meat, fish or vegetables.

A nice feature is its pod, that if briefly heated, becomes crispy.
Available all year long, this variety of chive can be easily stored for up to 7 days, around 2-4°C.