Chinese Chives

Chinese chives are related to common chives and belong to the garlic family. Their taste is much stronger and more garlicky than our chives and, as with Western chives, the flowers can be used as well as the blades. These chives are extremely popular and widely used in Hong Kong. They have an earthy onion taste and are delicious by themselves or cooked with other foods. Chinese chives can be found in Chinese shops, but they are very easy to grow in home herb gardens. Look for wide, flat blades and sprays of white, star-shaped flowers. They can be substituted for ordinary chives but adjust the quantity to allow for their stronger flavour. Rinse and dry the chives, store them in a plastic bag with a slightly damp paper towel in the refrigerator and use as soon as possible.