Chicory: varieties and types of lettuce and leaf crops, benefits and applications

Chicory is considered a perennial plant with a thick and fleshy root. This type of plant has a long and even stem, which is covered with small hairs, leaves grow on it. During flowering, it is covered with pink or bluish flowers, which are collected in a kind of small boxes. No matter which chicory variety is used, only seeds and roots are used from it.

Description of the plant

The plant is often found in abandoned areas, near roads, in overgrown wastelands. Also growing in many countries.

From one plant you can get from 2 to 20 thousand seeds. This grass blooms throughout the summer, but the ripening of seeds lasts until mid-September. Roots and seeds are used for consumption. After harvesting, the crop is ground and used as an additive in coffee, for brewing a drink. This appointment is justified by a wonderful smell and bitter taste. Made from roots and decoctions that have healing properties.

What varieties of chicory are there?

As for the varieties of chicory, there are more than 10 varieties, but only 2 of them are popular.

This is:

Sort Endive. This species is often used to prepare a variety of salads, side dishes for meat dishes.
Ordinary. Drinks are brewed from it, which are good for he alth.

For salads, take only fresh and not old leaves. It's a good idea to add it to food. It is especially common in the countries of the Mediterranean Sea, because it is in them that the main accumulation of this plant is observed.

The common variety is mainly used in powder consistency. This type produces a drink that tastes like coffee.

Important! The root of a common variety has useful substances, due to which this herb is often used to prepare medicinal decoctions.

Red chicory

Red chicory has reddish leaves with distinct white veins. The taste of such a representative of the variety is bitter and spicy, but softens after heat treatment. It is believed that this species is a salad, and is suitable for preparing a light dish. Pair with olive oil, beans and similar vegetables.

This plant normalizes the metabolic process in the body, and also removes all toxic substances.It also cleanses the kidneys, improves he alth in diabetic patients, normalizes blood composition, awakens appetite, has a positive effect on bowel function and is used as a remedy for heartburn.

With regular use, restores the tone of the body, relieves fatigue and fatigue.

Witloof-salad chicory

Witloof is a salad variety, often referred to as Belgian chicory. Grow it in greenhouses in winter or autumn. It is at this time, with the help of distillation from the roots, that juicy heads of cabbage and crispy leaves are obtained. In the summer, the plant is also grown. To do this, he is planted in the beds.

Before using Witloof for salad, it is soaked in brackish water, thus removing the bitter taste. The main feature of this leaf variety is the yield throughout the winter period, at a time when there are few fresh vegetables.The herb has many beneficial substances that have medicinal properties.

Chicory Endive

The Endive variety belongs to the daisy family and is considered a close relative of dandelions. Among the people, it is called salad chicory. Such a plant is represented by a head of light green color with the presence of green leaves. The leaves have a kind of curly, due to this criterion, it visually looks like a salad.

The taste is the same as other types, but not as popular as they are. It is sold in dense greenish heads of cabbage, which have smooth and united leaves, and reach 13 centimeters in length.

Chicory grows all year round, it can be consumed both raw and brew drinks, make fresh salads. The plant has beneficial qualities and healing abilities. Those who have not tried it at least once have lost a lot.After all, it is easy to grow even on the windowsill. By planting seeds, you will get a real treasure with a large supply of vitamins.