Shallots vs. Green Onions: Understanding the Difference

According to garden author Felder Rushing, shallots (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) are a distinct multiplier onion. Key differences:

• Flavor: Milder, more delicate than onions.
• Growth habit: Each bulb produces 6–10 shoots (vs. one shoot per onion bulb).
• Use: Young shoots can be harvested as "green onions"; mature bulbs are cured for storage.
• Origin: Western Asia (likely Syria); cultivated for centuries.

Regional naming confusion leads some to call any green onion a shallot, but true shallots are a specific botanical variety prized by chefs and gardeners alike.