Tarragon

HerbAromaticAnise-likeLicoriceHerbalSlightly BitterGrassySweet

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories: 50
Protein (g): 3.7
Fat (g): 1
Carbs (g): 7.4
Fiber (g): —
Sodium (mg): —

Potent flavor means typical use is in small amounts, contributing minimal calories per serving. Dried forms concentrate flavor more than fresh.

Storage

Room temp: up to 0 days
Refrigerated: up to 5 days
Frozen: up to 180 days

Tarragon is a slender-leafed perennial herb with narrow, glossy green leaves. It carries a sweet anise-licorice aroma with a slight bitter edge, and its tender leaves bruise easily; cooks use it to perfume vinegars, finish pan sauces like bearnaise, and fold into eggs, chicken, and seafood, and it is sold as fresh sprigs or dried leaves.

French tarragon likely arose in Central Asia and spread through Europe, becoming central to classic French cuisine and the fines herbes mix. Growers propagate it by cuttings rather than seed, with harvests peaking in late spring through summer in temperate regions.