Herb
Russian Tarragon
C tier
Russian tarragon is seed-grown A. dracunculus with coarser, often grassy-bitter leaves that lack French tarragon’s sweet anise. Nurseries sell it because seed is easy; cooks regret it in béarnaise. Usable as a robust herb if you accept different flavour, but never a silent substitute for French. Taste a leaf in the garden centre—if it is bland-bitter, walk away for sauce work.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Not BéarnaiseRustic HerbVinegar Experimental
Traits
Bitter-GrassyCoarseHardyHardy CoarseInferior CulinaryPoor Sauce SubSeed GrownWeaker Anise
History
Russian seed strains spread as hardy tarragon alternatives.
Cheap seed packets labelled simply tarragon were often Russian.
Herb writers publicly warned against Russian tarragon for cuisine.
Quality nurseries labelled Russian honestly versus French.