Artischocke

Cynara, the nymph, was transformed into an artichoke for refusing Zeus. This did not diminish the love of the ancient Greeks for the plant. The predecessors of our artichoke were valued in ancient Egypt as well as in Rome during the imperial era. It was not until the 15th century that the artichoke was brought to Italy via Arabia. Catherine de Medici took it with her to her new home in France, where artichokes became an exclusive fashionable vegetable, particularly due to their aphrodisiac properties. The artichoke has proven itself not only as a vegetable but also as a medicinal plant: as tea, fresh plant juice, extract, or digestif, it supports the function of the liver and gallbladder and lowers cholesterol levels. Today, 40% of artichokes come from Italy. Bruno Ciccaglione's book, featuring unusual recipes from "alla giudìa" to artichoke sorbet (many of them his own creations), is sure to inspire.