Chicory, you say? Who knew!
There are many plants all around that we pass by daily without knowing anything about them. Chicory is one particular plant that is not native to the United States, but has eventually made its way through various areas.
Easily identified by its simple yet beautiful bright blue flowers (I say more of a periwinkle, myself), I’ve seen this flowering perennial before but had no idea how cool it really is!
I happened upon this photo my cousin had shared (with caption) on Facebook. Having an affinity for biophilia myself, I decided to do a little light digging and check out the chicory stats. Here’s what I uncovered–
~ Britannica says: “When cultivated, its leaves are eaten as a vegetable or salad, or its roasted and ground roots are used as a flavouring additive in, or substitute for coffee.” Additionally, “similar in appearance to dandelion leaves, around the base”, the “roots may be boiled and eaten… and the leaves may be eaten as salad. The plant is also grown as a fodder or herbage crop for cattle. Chicory is sometimes used to impart additional colour, body, and bitterness to coffee; in the United States this practice is especially popular in the city of New Orleans.”
Attracts deer? Great for cattle? Healthy alternative to oats for horses? Sign me up.
~ According to another source, chicory actually harbors a great deal of holistic health benefits including, “ability to ease digestive problems, prevent heartburn, reduce arthritis pain, detoxify the liver and gallbladder, prevent bacterial infections, boost the immune system, and reduce the chances of heart diseases”. Among the fairly long list of additional benefits to consuming chicory in various forms, I found interestingly that, “In terms of nutritive value, chicory is a great source of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron-folic acid, and potassium, as well as vitamin A, B6, C, E, and K.”
No one complaining about the vegan life of nutrients here, ey?
~ The Huffington Post actually compiled an article focusing on chicory as a coffee substitute (focus: New Orleans) you can read more about here for those interested.
Looking for other coffee substitutes besides chicory?
Check out some delicious alternatives for coffee addicts and plain ol’ bean lovers alike.
Lastly for grins and giggles, here’s a cool mapped view indicating areas where chicory is found throughout North America.
Chicory map courtesy of Everwilde Farms Inc, who specialize in selling seeds for native wildflowers and heirloom vegetables.
Isn’t it wonderful to learn about the world around you? I’m always eager to find out about my surroundings and environment. Today is a great day for learning.
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