Artichokes are not only a he althy vegetable, but also a medicinal plant. The buds have been considered a delicacy for centuries. But where does the plant actually come from?
Where does the artichoke come from?
The artichokecomes from the Mediterranean region. It is believed that the plants were originally native to Egypt. Even today, the vegetables are mainly grown in the frost-free, Mediterranean regions.
Where is the original home of the artichoke?
Even if the origin of the artichoke is not entirely certain,Egypt is now accepted as the country of origin.. Initially, however, it was used more as an ornamental plant in the garden. At that time, the artichoke was classified as poisonous. However, old records indicate that the plant was already widespread in the southern Mediterranean from North Africa to Turkey in ancient times. In the Roman Empire it was then used as a vegetable plant. This makes the artichoke one of the oldest vegetables.
How did artichokes come to Europe?
The artichoke wasintroduced to Europe by the Arabs in the 13th century. It was initially grown on the Canary Islands and Sicily. In the 15th century, the Italian herbalist Phillip Strozzi began cultivating artichokes in the Naples region. In doing so, he laid the foundation for today's cultivation of vegetables in Italy, France, the USA and many other countries.
Tip
Artichoke sensitive to frost
Artichokes are now also grown in mild areas of Germany. Since the plants cannot tolerate frost, they must be protected from the cold in winter. Due to the effort, most of the artichokes sold in Germany today come from Italy.
