Chervil

CHERVIL

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Anthriscus cerefolium

PRONUNCIATION: an-THRIS-kus kay-ree-FOE-lee-um

COMMON NAMES: CHERVIL, GOURMET PARSLEY, FRENCH PARSLEY, GARDEN CHERVIL

FAMILY: Apiaceae or Umbelliferae

TYPE: Annual

LOCATION: Partial shade is best.

PLANTING: Fall from transplants or seed.

HEIGHT: Up to 2 feet

SPREAD: 6 inches

FINAL SPACING: 6 – 12 inches

BLOOM/FRUIT: Umbels of tiny white flowers in early summer.

GROWTH HABITS/CULTURE: Leafy annual herb with branched hollow stems and bright green finely textured leaves that readily self seeds. Looks like Italian parsley, likes cool weather, can take some frost. Will bolt during the first warm days of spring. Will self sow. Keep well watered to prevent premature seeding. Likes partial shade.

PROBLEMS: None serious.

HARVEST/STORAGE: Harvest anytime. Best to use fresh from the garden.

CULINARY USES: Use the same as parsley in salads, soups, sauces and garnish. Chervil has a lemon-anise flavor that is lost with long cooking. Because of this fragility, it should be added at the very end of preparation of cooked foods or used as a garnish. There is not much use for dried chervil.
Chervil is best used fresh. To store fresh chervil, wrap it in damp paper towels and plastic and keep it in the crisper or hydrator in the refrigerator. It can only be used for two to three days. Its short life span means that it is difficult to find for sale, and this is one reason that it is not well known.

MEDICINAL USES: Eat or use as a tea to help purify the body. It is a mild digestive, helps circulation, and soothes painful joints. Leaves contain Vitamin C, carotene, iron and magnesium. Chervil also may reduce phlegm and liver problems and is good for the skin.

LANDSCAPE USES: Too short lived to use in large areas.

INSIGHT: Blends well with other herbs.

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