Chicory

Botanical name:
Cichorium intybus
Family:
Asteraceae
Where to find this herb:
Dry, rich, heavy soil; roadsides, fields
Part(s) used:
root, leaves
Special constituents:
Inulin (up to 58% in the taproot)
Correspondance:
21(Culpeper), 30(Cunningham)
Use:
Coffee substitute, mildly choleretic

Description:
Chicory works by increasing the flow of bile into the digestive tract, and is therefore an appetite stimulant and digestive aid. For this purpose, make tea of the herb and drink before meals.

Brussels sprouts are a cultivated form of Chicory. Leaves from the wild Chicory can also be used in salads, which according to Mrs. Grieve the Romans liked. The leaves has to be steamed a bit first, otherwise they are too bitter.

The herb is closely related to Endive(Cichorium endivia) - although this plant is from Asia originally, and Chicory is from Europe.

Magically Chicory is said to remove all obstacles on one's path (Cunningham).

Chicory flowers:
You can use them to decorate salads and other dishes. But hurry, once the chicory flower has opened it only stays open for five hours, so harvest before it's too late! The lovely blue colour changes if exposed to formic acid. So if you grow Chicory on an anthill, the flowers will be brightly red!

Chicory root:
The young roots can be peeled and cooked. Serve it with a nice sauce as a vegetable dish. Or wash the roots, cut them in little pieces and dry them. Roast the pieces and use as a substitute for coffee, as they did during the second world war. It has a calming effect, and if you mix it with real coffee it neutralizes the effect of the caffeine. The mixture is said to taste very nice, I didn't try it myself though. Here in Belgium Chicory is still sold, and you find it next to the coffees and teas in the supermarket.

Growing Chicory:
You can easily grow Chicory from seeds. The first year it doesn't always flower, but produces a large taproot. The second year you get plenty of flowers and the root increases in size. The flowers are really pretty, it's a pity they don't stay open very long though.