Ger-Nis INTERNATIONAL, LLC

Ask Ger-Nis

I have sorrel in my garden that keeps coming back in spring, what can I use it in?
Taisia Vizgalina, Belarus

Sorrel, also known as sour grass, is a great spring herb and has more diverse uses than people imagine. Sorrel is a greatparing with eggs and peas. We often find just the recipe for sorrel soup. But we also found online some wonderful recipes like Butter Braised Radishes with Sorrel as well as Sorrel Frittata.

I see chive flowers at my local farmers market and was wondering what the best use for them is?
Jack Gilbert Oceanside, California

Chive blossoms are one of spring’s delicacies for sure, with their very robust and garlicky/onion scent and flavor they lend themselves well to salads, salad dressings, eggs, and more. Try them where you would use garlic. Light pasta with garlic chives, butter, lemon and shrimp is lovely!

Do the flowers on the herbs make a difference to their taste or flavor?
Woody Kumetat Philadelphia, PA

It depends on the herb, the flowers are a sign that the herb is trying to produce seeds. Some herbs are annuals (life span just one season) and some are perennials (several years lifespan). The annuals like basil, cilantro, dill, parsley & cilantro tend to change their flavor drastically with flowers, while the others thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram, maintain their flowers. In the spring many of the perennials are flowering and we believe that it can be a beautiful addition to your cooking and garnishes without losing their flavor.

If you have a produce or herb question for Ger-Nis, please email us at and we will answer it in the next issue of Herb Blurbs. Thank You!