- A leafy vegetable available all year round
- Use the high season in favor of better quality and prices
- A longer procedure that is worth it
- tips and tricks
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With his pale exterior, he exercises elegant restraint. With its crunchy consistency and its delicately bitter, sweet and refreshing taste, it convinces the palate. But when is chicory in season and how can good quality be identified?
A leafy vegetable available all year round
When it gets too cold for most other leafy greens, chicory really comes into its own. Alongside kale, lamb's lettuce and purslane, it is one of the most popular leafy vegetables in winter. But it's not only found in stores in winter. Global production and modern storage facilities make it possible for chicory to be available all year round.
Use the high season in favor of better quality and prices
Although chicory can be bought all year round, this is not advisable. For example, if you buy chicory in the summer, there is a high probability that you will find inferior quality and an inflated price. But when can you expect flawless chicory?
Chicory is a winter lettuce whose season in Germany begins in October and is usually declared over between March and April. During this time you can use the leafy vegetables, which are best from the region, as a winter salad.
Some of the things that speak for good quality are:
- tightly closed, heavy pistons
- a predominantly white and slightly yellowish color
- no green leaves
- no brown spots
- none of the outer leaves have been removed yet
A longer procedure that is worth it
Between mid-September and the end of October, the beet-shaped chicory roots are harvested and then placed in the cold store or in basins with warm water. There they are encouraged to drive. The chicory is ready to harvest after three to four weeks. It can be stored in a dark and cool place such as the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
The whole procedure can also be done on your own. The chicory can be grown in your own garden and later grown in suitable rooms. It doesn't get any fresher.
tips and tricks
The fresher the chicory, the tastier it will be remembered. There is now also red chicory, which is suitable for all those who like to avoid the bitter aftertaste.