Common chicory is a woody, herbaceous plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae. Usually seen with bright blue flowers, it can also have white or pink flowers (although the latter colours are rare). Many varieties are cultivated for their salad leaves, chicons or roots, which are ...Common chicory is a woody, herbaceous plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae.
Usually seen with bright blue flowers, it can also have white or pink flowers (although the latter colours are rare). Many varieties are cultivated for their salad leaves, chicons or roots, which are baked, ground and used as a coffee substitute and food additive. These plants are native to Europe and Asia and were first introduced to North America in the 19th Century.
Chicory roots can be baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and food additive. Since the 21st century, inulin, an extract from the root, has been used in food manufacturing as a sweetener and source of dietary fibre.