What's The Difference Between Chives, Scallions, And Green Onions?

Chives, green onions, and scallions all look remarkably similar, but they work even better in recipes when you understand the nuances between them.

Despite the different names, scallions and green onions can be used interchangeably. Each plant is harvested early from the Allium cepa species of onions.

The main difference between

the two is that scallions are harvested earlier, so their bulbs are thinner. Chives, meanwhile, are in a category all on their own.

Chives aren't a form of an onion — they're part of the Amaryllidaceae family of flowering plants. They are thinner than scallions and green onions and lack a bulb at the bottom.

Chives have a much more mild onion taste, with a bit of a garlicky bend. This makes them easier to eat raw and slice thinly to use as a garnish on almost anything.