Forgotten stalk vegetables and beautiful flower decoration
Unlike the common artichoke, it is not the hearts of the Spanish artichoke that are eaten, but rather the fleshy leaf stalks with their spicy, nutty flavor, making it a traditional late-season vegetable. This robust cultivated plant reaches a height of up to two meters, boasts large leaves, characteristic thickened leaf stalks, and numerous dark purple flowers up to 15 centimeters across from July to September. With its large blossoms, the plant is an attractive addition to any flower bed and is also excellent for making dried flower arrangements and table decorations. For this purpose, the flowers are simply harvested with their stems and loosely arranged in a container to dry, ensuring the stems do not touch the bottom.
originates from the Mediterranean region. In Germany, it was a well-known vegetable until the end of the 19th century, and recipes for it can still be found in many older cookbooks.
