Globe artichoke

The globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, formerly Cynara scolymus) is a perennial herb of the aster family (Asteraceae), 1–1.5 m tall before flowering and up to 2 m in bloom. The leaves are very large, deeply pinnately lobed, green above and greyish-white downy beneath. The inflorescence (the head) is spherical to oval, 8–15 cm across, made of thick, tightly overlapping bracts; while young and green, the fleshy receptacle (heart) and bract bases are edible, nutty and mildly bitter. The true flowers are small and purplish-blue, opening from the top of the head as a crown of violet florets. It is grown from seed, cuttings or offsets; in cool climates such as Da Lat, Vietnam, it yields large plump heads.

The globe artichoke comes from the Mediterranean, domesticated from the wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) and grown widely in Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, Chile and the USA (California). In Vietnam it was introduced mainly to Da Lat and other highlands from the 1940s, famous for steamed artichoke, artichoke soup and artichoke tea/extract. Folk experience and modern research show that artichoke contains cynarin, chlorogenic acid and flavonoids that stimulate liver function, increase bile secretion, aid digestion and help lower cholesterol. The receptacle and young bract bases are a gourmet vegetable; the large leaves yield herbal tea.