Varieties There are two varieties, which are interchangeable in cooking. Garden, or common, chives are hollow in the center. The leaves are crisp and the flavor is similar to a mild green onion. The edible lavender blossom takes on the same flavor as the leaf.

Garlic, or Chinese, chives have thin, flat leaves that can be soft and somewhat limp. They taste grassy and mildly garlicky. The blossoms, typically white, have the same garlicky flavor as the leaf.

Availability Garden chives are the variety most often found in grocery stores. They’re available year-round. If you grow your own, chives can be harvested from spring until late summer.

Storage Place chives in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for several days. Or put them in a glass of cool water and store in a cool place in your kitchen.

Preparation The most efficient way to cut chives is with a sharp knife.