Artichoke The Edible Flower Bud
from Italian Traditional Food

Eating artichoke

There are many great Italian dishes that incorporate such vegetables as the artichoke, these fine flower buds are used to not only appease those with a love for this bud, but to accent many famous dishes as well.

There are approximately 3 different sizes of the artichoke that you can find at your local market today, from very large to almost baby like in appearance.

It is the artichoke that is at its earliest stage that is the finest to dine on, and as they age and grow in size they become less delicate and easy to cook.

The larger the bud, the more likely it is going to be boiled and stuffed. These larger buds are considered to be of a lesser quality.

From Flower To Food Source

The bud of an artichoke is actually the bud of a flowery plant known as Cynara Scolymus, and this plant when not torn apart to yield its fruit blossoms into a beautiful blue purple flower that can grow to be 7 to 10 inches across. This plant is actually harvested before the plant has a chance to blossom, and they are usually picked from the lower stems of the plant. The Romans as baby buds refer to the buds at this stage. This is when they are at their most delicate and are at a prime cooking age. These buds can be roasted or grilled to bring the leaves or spears to a crispy golden brown color and they are quite delectable.

Home Of The Great Artichoke

While Italy is responsible for two thirds of all artichoke production globally, there are other countries that are showing that they can grow this wonderful bulb as well. France is also a major player in the artichoke business, coming in close behind however, are Spain and The United States. Most of the production state side is found in the state of California, this is possible because of the year round crops that the state is able to produce.

While the state is capable of offering artichoke 12 months of the year, the finest and most peak months for this bud are March through May. When you consider the crops that are coming out of an area such as California, it is surprising to note that the Italians are far more interested in this plant than the western society.

Its Artichoke Or Nothing

One thing that many people may not know about the artichoke, is that it has taste changing properties. This means that it can in fact alter the taste of another food or dish, by either applying it or eating it prior. It is never a good idea to eat artichoke before you plan on tasting fine wines, as you will not have the ability to detect the different tones in the wine.

This can be a good thing when eating something that may be on the bitter side, or it can be a negative experience when you are trying to get the most out of a fine vino. Whichever you plan on doing, you need to keep this in mind when considering artichoke on the menu.

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