Chives

This article is about the edible plant common in Western cuisine. For the Asian vegetable (garlic chives, Chinese chives) see Allium tuberosum. For other uses see chives (disambiguation)
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Allium schoenoprasum (left)
and Allium cepa (right)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Species: A. schoenoprasum
Binomial name
Allium schoenoprasum
L.
Synonyms
Chives, raw

A clump of flowering chives
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 126 kJ (30 kcal)
4.35 g
Sugars 1.85 g
Dietary fiber 2.5 g
0.73 g
3.27 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
(27%)

218 μg

(24%)
2612 μg
323 μg
Thiamine (B1)
(7%)

0.078 mg

Riboflavin (B2)
(10%)

0.115 mg

Niacin (B3)
(4%)

0.647 mg

line-height:1.1em
(6%)

0.324 mg

Vitamin B6
(11%)

0.138 mg

Folate (B9)
(26%)

105 μg

Vitamin C
(70%)

58.1 mg

Vitamin E
(1%)

0.21 mg

Vitamin K
(203%)

212.7 μg

Minerals
Calcium
(9%)

92 mg

Iron
(12%)

1.6 mg

Magnesium
(12%)

42 mg

Manganese
(18%)

0.373 mg

Phosphorus
(8%)

58 mg

Potassium
(6%)

296 mg

Zinc
(6%)

0.56 mg

Link to USDA Database entry
Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database
Chive flower
Flower with bud
Chive flower
Fully open flower
Chive seeds
Chive seedlings sprouting

Chives is the common name of Allium schoenoprasum, an edible species of the Allium genus.[2]

A perennial plant, it is widespread in nature across much of Europe, Asia and North America.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

A. schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.

The name of the species derives from the Greek σχοίνος, skhoínos (sedge) and πράσον, práson (leek).[9] Its English name, chives, derives from the French word cive, from cepa, the Latin word for onion.[10]

Chives are a commonly used herb and can be found in grocery stores or grown in home gardens. In culinary use, the scapes and the unopened, immature flower buds are diced and used as an ingredient for fish, potatoes, soups, and other dishes. Chives have insect-repelling properties that can be used in gardens to control pests.[11]

Biology

Chives are a bulb-forming herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 30–50 cm (12–20 in) tall. The bulbs are slender, conical, 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1 1⁄4 in) long and 1 cm (1⁄2 in) broad, and grow in dense clusters from the roots. The scapes (or stems) are hollow and tubular, up to 50 cm (20 in) long and 2–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) across, with a soft texture, although, prior to the emergence of a flower, they may appear stiffer than usual. The leaves, which are shorter than the scapes, are also hollow and tubular, or terete, (round in cross-section) which distinguishes it at a glance from Garlic Chives. The flowers are pale purple, and star-shaped with six petals, 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) wide, and produced in a dense inflorescence of 10-30 together; before opening, the inflorescence is surrounded by a papery bract. The seeds are produced in a small three-valved capsule, maturing in summer. The herb flowers from April to May in the southern parts of its habitat zones and in June in the northern parts.[12][13]

Chives are the only species of Allium native to both the Old World and the New World. Sometimes, the plants found in North America are classified as A. schoenoprasum var. sibiricum, although this is disputed. Differences among specimens are significant. One example was found in northern Maine growing solitary, instead of in clumps, also exhibiting dingy grey flowers.[14]

Although chives are repulsive to insects in general, due to their sulfur compounds, their flowers attract bees, and they are at times kept to increase desired insect life.[15]

Uses

Culinary arts

Chives are grown for their scapes, which are used for culinary purposes as a flavoring herb, and provide a somewhat milder flavor than those of other Allium species.

Chives have a wide variety of culinary uses, such as in traditional dishes in France, Sweden and elsewhere.[16] In his 1806 book Attempt at a Flora (Försök til en flora), Retzius describes how chives are used with pancakes, soups, fish and sandwiches.[16] They are also an ingredient of the gräddfil sauce with the traditional herring dish served at Swedish midsummer celebrations. The flowers may also be used to garnish dishes.[17] In Poland and Germany, chives are served with quark cheese. Chives are one of the "fines herbes" of French cuisine, which also include tarragon, chervil or parsley. Chives can be found fresh at most markets year-round, making them readily available; they can also be dry-frozen without much impairment to the taste, giving home growers the opportunity to store large quantities harvested from their own gardens.[10]

Uses in plant cultivation

Retzius also describes how farmers would plant chives between the rocks making up the borders of their flowerbeds, to keep the plants free from pests (such as Japanese beetles).[16][18] The growing plant repels unwanted insect life, and the juice of the leaves can be used for the same purpose, as well as fighting fungal infections, mildew and scab.[19][20][21]

Its flowers are attractive to bees, which are important for gardens with an abundance of plants in need of pollination.

Medicine

The medicinal properties of chives are similar to those of garlic, but weaker; the faint effects in comparison with garlic are probably the main reason for their limited use as a medicinal herb. Containing numerous organosulfur compounds such as allyl sulfides[22] and alkyl sulfoxides, chives are reported to have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system. They also have mild stimulant, diuretic, and antiseptic properties.[23] As chives are usually served in small amounts and never as the main dish, negative effects are rarely encountered, although digestive problems may occur following overconsumption.[24]

Chives are also rich in vitamins A and C,[25] contain trace amounts of sulfur, and are rich in calcium and iron.[26]

Cultivation

Chives are cultivated both for their culinary uses and their ornamental value; the violet flowers are often used in ornamental dry bouquets.[27]

Chives thrive in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, with a pH of 6-7 and full sun.[8] They can be grown from seed and mature in summer, or early the following spring. Typically, chives need to be germinated at a temperature of 15 to 20 °C (60-70 °F) and kept moist. They can also be planted under a cloche or germinated indoors in cooler climates, then planted out later. After at least four weeks, the young shoots should be ready to be planted out. They are also easily propagated by division.[28]

In cold regions, chives die back to the underground bulbs in winter, with the new leaves appearing in early spring. Chives starting to look old can be cut back to about 2–5 cm. When harvesting, the needed number of stalks should be cut to the base.[28] During the growing season, the plant will continually regrow leaves, allowing for a continuous harvest.[28]

History and cultural importance

Chives have been cultivated in Europe since the Middle Ages (5th until the 15th centuries), although their usage dates back 5000 years.[10] They were sometimes referred to as "rush leeks" (from the Greek schoinos meaning rush and prason meaning leek).

The Romans believed chives could relieve the pain from sunburn or a sore throat. They believed eating chives could increase blood pressure and act as a diuretic.[29]

Romanian Gypsies have used chives in fortune telling.[25] It was believed that bunches of dried chives hung around a house would ward off disease and evil.[25]

References

  1. ↑ 1885 illustration. Original book source: Prof. Otto Wilhelm Thomé; Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. 1885, Gera, Germany
  2. ↑ LaFray, Joyce (1987). Tropic Cooking: The New Cuisine from Florida and the Islands of the Caribbean. Oakland: Ten Speed Press. p. 292. ISBN 0-89815-234-8.
  3. ↑ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". kew.org.
  4. ↑ Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 195 北葱 bei cong Allium schoenoprasum
  5. ↑ Tardiff, B.; Morisset, P. (1990). "Clinal morphological variation of Allium schoenoprasum in eastern North America". Taxon 39 (3): 417–429. JSTOR 1223088.
  6. ↑ Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 240 Chive Allium schoenoprasum
  7. ↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, Erba cipollina, wild chives, Civette, Schnittlauch, Allium schoenoprasum L. includes photos, drawings, European distribution map, etc.
  8. 1 2 Allium schoenoprasum factsheet from Kemper center for home gardening
  9. ↑ Anna-Lena Anderberg. "Den virtuella floran: Allium schoenoprasum L. - Gräslök". nrm.se.
  10. 1 2 3 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone. "Chive Selection and Storage". About.com Food.
  11. ↑ Kaufman, Peter B; Thomas J Carlson; Kaufman B Kaufman; Harry L Brielmann; Sara Warber; Leland J Cseke; James A Duke (1999). Natural Products from Plants. Boca Raton: CRC Press. p. 261. 084933134X.
  12. ↑ Allium schoenoprasum factsheet, from Kemper center for home gardening, retrieved on June 13, 2006, based on the position of the botanical Garden (Missouri)
  13. ↑ Gräslök, from Den virtuella floran, retrieved on June 13, 2006, The facts mentioned on the site apply to Sweden, which is in the northern part of the habitat zone.
  14. ↑ McGary, Mary Jane (2001). Bulbs of North America: North American Rock Garden Society. Portland: Timber Press. pp. 28–29. 088192511X.
  15. ↑ Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. 0
  16. 1 2 3 Försök til en Flora Oeconomica Sveciæ by A. J. Retzius (1806)
  17. ↑ Allium schoenoprasum, from Mountain valley growers, accessed on June 13, 2006
  18. ↑ Andy Hamilton. "pests – selfsufficientish – pests". selfsufficientish.com.
  19. ↑ Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
  20. ↑ Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
  21. ↑ Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
  22. ↑ Burdock, George A (1996). Encyclopedia of Food & Color Additives. Boca Raton: CRC Press. pp. 87, 95–96. ISBN 0-8493-9412-0.
  23. ↑ Gualtiero Simonetti (1990). Stanley Schuler, ed. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices. Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 0-671-73489-X.
  24. ↑ Chive Talkin', by Winston J. Craig, Ph. D
  25. 1 2 3 Chives, from "Sally's place", accessed on May 31, 2009
  26. ↑ Organic Gardening Practices. Archived December 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  27. ↑ "Flower & Garden Magazine, June-July 1996, The lazy gardener's guide to potpourri". findarticles.com.
  28. 1 2 3 McGee, Rose Marie Nichols; Stuckey, Maggie (2002). The Bountiful Container. Workman Publishing.
  29. ↑ Staub, Jack E. (2008). 75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden. Gibbs Smith. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4236-0251-4.

External links

Wikiversity has bloom time data for Allium schoenoprasum on the Bloom Clock
Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on
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