Chervil is a herbaceous plant, belonging to the Umbelliferae family, which is quite similar to parsley; it has a hollow stem and slightly hairy serrated leaves. Its name derives from the Greek and means "beautiful leaves". At the time of Pliny it was recommended to consume it to cure stomach ailments.

Chervil tastes similar to parsley, although more delicate; it is used to flavor salads, broths (especially vegetable), risottos and pasta sauces. It is widely used in France, as a component of the 'béarnaise' sauce and of the 'garnished bunch'.