What is a celery heart?

Celery hearts are the lighter, inner ribs of a celery bunch. Their flavor is milder than the darker ribs, and they are also more tender. Celery hearts are often sold separately because of their mild flavor and texture.

Celery hearts refer to the inner stalks of the Pascal variety, the most common type of celery. Celery is from the same family as parsley, carrots, caraway and fennel. Another type of celery known as Golden celery does not turn green because it is grown underneath layers of soil. Smallage refers to wild celery and is known for its stringy texture and bitter taste.