CHICORIUM INTYBUS: A SALAD INGREDIENT? NO, IT’S A ROOT!

Cichorium intybus is the most frequently grown chicory species thanks to its many applications in the food industry. Chicory is one of the few hot drinks made with a root extract. Just consider coffee, which comes from beans, or seeds. Three cichorium intybus varieties exist: radicchio, foliosum and sativum. But what do these Latin terms truly mean? The radicchio variety is generally used in salads. The famous chicory salad can come in many colours, red, green, white or even a mixture of hues. This variety is often referred to as Chioggia or Treviso. Have you heard of endives? Endives are part of the second chicory family: the foliosum variety. Endives are mainly grown for their leaves and some varieties have been named for their fans such as “Spadona”, “Catalogna” and even “Witloof”. We saved the best for last, the chicory type loved and cherished by Chicorée Leroux: the sativum variety. This variety is also known as industrial chicory or drink chicory. This plant offers a worthwhile yield and volumes compatible with a transformation process. Nonetheless, you still need to add know-how and expertise to the mix for transformation purposes. Click here for comprehensive details: link!