CHIVES

ALLIUM SCHOENOPRASUM

Chives (Allium Schoenoprasum L.) are herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the Liliaceous family.
They are native to North America, Europe and Asia, and grow spontaneously on the high grounds of these continents; they have been cultivated since the 16th Century.
Chives are geophytes and carpeting creeping plants, characterised by a distinctive aroma of onion that all the green parts of this plant emanate. Chives like well drained soils that are rich in organic matter.
The bulbs are small (around 2 cm) and are made up of tiny cylindrical, tunicate elongated bulbs which grow sprouting upward; white roots radiate from the base of the bulbs.
Its leaves are narrow, green and hollow; they reach a height of approximately 25 cm.
During summer chives flower semi-spherical umbel inflorescences, developed on the top of its stems: these are made up of small pink-lilac, or more rarely white flowers.
Chives are highly appreciated in cookery for their aroma, which is similar to that of an onion. They can be employed fresh, raw or chopped into rings and kept in plastic bags in the freezer.