Both plants appear in spring. Both are edible and taste excellent, for example as an addition to scrambled eggs, salads, or sandwiches. Both have health-promoting properties. We found them on the outskirts of Bolesławiec without any major difficulty. However, let us remember that if we want to use plants for food, they should not be collected along roads (where vehicle traffic takes place) or in places that may be polluted.
Both garlic mustard and chives are easily recognized by their smell. In the case of garlic mustard, if we crush one of its leaves, we will notice a delicate garlic scent. In the case of chives, we will notice a very intense smell of chives (onion).
Below, we present photos of both plants and a few sentences about their properties:
Garlic mustard – as Wikipedia reports:
A biennial plant (rarely annual or perennial), a hemicryptophyte. It blooms from April to June, and in the mountains until July. Habitat: a woodland species, occurring mainly in deciduous forests and communities at forest edges, as well as in ruderal habitats—under fences, along roadsides, and on railway embankments.
And what about its health-promoting properties?
As reported by portal.abczdrowie.pl:
Garlic mustard is not only an ornamental plant, but also has health-promoting properties. It has disinfectant, antibacterial, and antiparasitic effects. It supports the digestive system, counteracts abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea, and relieves indigestion. It has detoxifying properties. It alleviates pain associated with rheumatic diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis).
Garlic mustard can be an excellent remedy for colds and coughs because it has an expectorant effect. It warms the body effectively and has antibacterial properties; for this reason, it is recommended for people who feel weak or are struggling with the flu, sore throat, laryngitis, or respiratory tract inflammation.
Wild chives – according to Wikipedia:
Chives, also known as common chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.), are a plant species in the amaryllis family. In the wild, they are widely distributed around the globe. They occur in Europe, Asia, and North America. They are also commonly cultivated in many countries around the world.
Health-promoting properties:
The portal zywienie.abczdrowie.pl reports:
It is considered a medicinal plant because of its high content of vitamin C and iron. Chives speed up digestion and lower blood pressure. Chives have also been observed to improve mood due to their choline content and to improve appetite.
Chives and other vegetables from the amaryllis family have anticancer effects. This mainly concerns cancers of the digestive system, as chives contain many free radicals that hinder the development of cancerous changes. In addition, eating chives reduces the risk of prostate cancer.