🌸Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a perennial plant that belongs to the dandelion family. It has a strong taproot that can grow up to several feet deep into the soil. The plant typically grows up to 2-5 feet tall and has a spread of 1-2 feet.
The leaves of the chicory plant are lance-shaped and have a slightly bitter taste. The flowers are usually blue, but can also be white or pink, and bloom from mid-summer to early fall. The plant is often grown as a forage crop for livestock, but some varieties of chicory are also cultivated for their edible leaves, flowers, and roots.
Chicory leaves are often used in salads and can be cooked like spinach or other leafy greens. The flowers can be eaten raw or cooked and are sometimes used as a garnish. The roots are dried, roasted, and ground to make chicory coffee or used as a coffee substitute. In addition to its culinary uses, chicory has been traditionally used in herbal medicine to aid digestion, treat inflammation, and support liver and gallbladder function.
🔎How to identify Chicory:
Leaves: Chicory leaves are usually elongated, slightly pointed, and slightly toothed or lobed. They grow in a basal rosette at the base of the plant, and can be up to 10 inches long.
Flowers: Chicory flowers are usually blue, but can also be white or pink. They are daisy-like, with multiple petals surrounding a central disk. The flowers are typically 1-2 inches in diameter, and bloom from mid-summer to early fall.
Growth habit: Chicory is a perennial plant that grows up to 2-5 feet tall. It has a thick taproot that can grow several feet deep into the soil.
Habitat: Chicory is often found growing along roadsides, in meadows, and in disturbed areas. It is also cultivated as a forage crop and can be found in fields.
Taste: Chicory has a slightly bitter taste, which can help distinguish it from other similar-looking plants.
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Yeah chicory and dandelion coffee blend is pretty famous in New Orleans Cafe Du Monde sells it exclusively