Edible Plants of the World

Chinese Chives

It grows in light well drained soils. It can tolerate poor soils. They need full sun. It grows in the tropics and subtropics in China. Long days promote bulb and flower formation. In Yunnan.

Also known as:

Bawang ganda, Ch'iao t'ou, Chinese scallions, Cholang, Hiai, Hom-paenyuak, Hom prang, Hsieh, Japanese pickling onion, Japanese scallions, Jiao tou, K'iu t'au, Krathiam cheen, Krathiam chin, Lokyo, Mwjngphanf, Namemira, Newgi tingdra, Rak kioo, Rakkiyo, Rakkyo, Tlang purun

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Chinese Chives grow?

Found in: Asia, Australia, China, Cuba, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, SE Asia, Tasmania, Thailand, United States, Vietnam

Notes: It contains about 3.1% protein, 0.12% fat, 18.3% soluble carbohydrate, 0.7% ash. There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.

Status: This species is widely cultivated for its edible bulb and leaves in Japan, China and many other parts of eastern Asia. It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Growing Chinese Chives

Cultivation: It can be grown from seed or by division of bulbs. Seed are rarely produced so bulbs are normally used. They are planted in late summer just below the soil surface. They are spaced at 20 cm apart.

Edible Uses: The bulbs are eaten raw or cooked. They are pickled in salt, soy sauce and sugar. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The flowers and seed pods are used raw to flavour salads.

Production: Bulbs are harvested after leaves die back. For young bulbs and white stems plants are harvested before the leaves die back.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Bulb - 0.6 - - - - 86
Leaves - - - - - -
Seedpod - - - - - -
Flowers - - - - - -

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