Thursday, April 17, 2008

Garlic Chives, Buchus


I searched all over the Internet, but there seems to be no one site which gives a clear answer to what this vegetable (buchu in Korean) is called in English. Some call them leeks and some chives, or more closely garlic chives. Leeks can't be it because they are more like giant scallions. If anyone finds more accurate English word for buchu, please correct me.

Garlic chives, from the first glance, look more like thick bladed grass but only taller. But if you look more closely, they are thinner than grass and exude a subtle garlicky smell and a similar wild taste. In Korea, buchus are regarded as one of highly nutritious vegetables that is supposed to do everything that is good for your body, from detoxifying your blood to helping digestion. I have rarely seen buchus being used in western cooking, but quite frequently in Asian cooking.

Related recipes:
Garlic Chives Pancake

5 comments:

Min said...

Update: it was confirmed at Berkeley Bowl today that buchu's are called Garlic Chives in English :-)

Anonymous said...

(Allium Schoenoprasum) Perennial. Also known as Oriental Leek. Flat leaves have strong garlic flavor.

Migi said...

Thanks for the info!

Vitamins Canada said...

Oriental cooking makes full use of the buchus.

Migi said...

@Vitamins Canada - very much agreed!