General Information
Similar in appearance to chives, garlic chives have wider, flatter stems that are also hollow. Also known as Chinese chives, garlic chives (Allium tuberosum), can be used and stored in the same manner as chives. As you would expect, garlic chives have a delicate garlic flavor and are used extensively in oriental dishes.
History
The Chinese have been growing and cooking with garlic chives for at least 3,000 years (since the Chou dynasty – 1027 BC to 256 BC).) But the popularity of this graceful herb with the pretty white flowers extends beyond China. Japanese cooks call garlic chives ‘nira’ and use them frequently in meat and seafood recipes.
