Page 17 - Book-TradiAliCulture-Belgium
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What is a « chicon » ?
Latin name: Cichorium intybus var. foliosum L.
The endive or Brussels chicory or
“witloof” chicory is the name given
traditionally in Belgium and in the north of
France to designate the bleached shoots
obtained by forcing a variety of endives.
However, this bitter chicory (of the
Asteraceae family) is normally cultivated (by
forcing) as an annual plant in order to
produce these famous « chicons ».
Endives with their roots
Contrary to what its usual name might suggest, this endive is not a variety
resulting from the "true endive" named Cichorium endivia L. which gives the salad
greens and crimson.
The « chicon » is a vegetable that does not exist as such in the wild. It was really
created by man with, as always in these cases, a share of luck.
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