Herbs and roots have been used in alternative medicine for centuries, and chicory is no exception.
What is this mystical plant, and does it really boast legitimate health benefits?
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What Is Chicory?C. intybus is a perennial plant related to the dandelion that blooms with beautiful blue flowers.
The leaves and roots are both edible, but traditionally the root is more commonly found in culinary use, to make brewed hot beverages.
Chicory is native to Europe, western Asia, and parts of North and West Africa, and today it has naturalized in North America.
Culinary UsesC. intybus leaves have a bitter taste, so they are often cooked to make their flavor more mild. Wild chicory leaves are commonly eaten in Greece and Albania, and they are delicious paired with garlic or anchovies.
Cultivated leaves of other subspecies related to this plant are commonly known as radicchio, Belgian endive, escarole, and sugarloaf.
These are also bitter leaves that can be used in salads or cooked, similar to wild leaves. We’ll cover these in more detail in separate guides.
C. intybus root is often used as a food additive or dietary supplement. The roots are processed to allow manufacturers to extract the inulin they contain, a type of insoluble dietary fiber.
The root can also be roasted and ground to brew a beverage similar to coffee, or chicory and coffee are sometimes blended to make a less expensive beverage that is also lower in caffeine.
Health BenefitsOne of the main compounds in C. intybus root is inulin, as mentioned above, a starch-like molecule
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