Tarragon dried DESCRIPTIONS: Tarragon is a herb used in cooking that is known for its shiny, thin leaves and strong smell. The French type is the one most often used in cooking. Tarragon is used in a lot of French dishes, like Béarnaise sauce. Its mild flavor goes well with fish, chicken, and eggs. It is called "the king of herbs" in France because it can make a dish taste better. It is one of the four herbs in the French blend fines herbes, which also includes parsley, tarragon, chervil, and chives. Tarragon is a perennial plant, which means that if you plant it, it will come back every year. It is in the Artemesia genus with other greens that taste like licorice, like the one that is used to make the French aperitif absinthe.