Wild chicory

From chicory to… coffee!

Wild chicory, also known as radicchio, is a perennial herbaceous plant (scientific name Cichorium intybus). It belongs to the large Composite family.

For at least three centuries, throughout Europe the leaves of this plant were considered valuable as vegetables and forage. The coffee obtained from chicory roots is also known as “Coffee of Prussia”: it owes its name to Frederick II of Prussia who favored its production in the 18th century.

Wild chicory has a very long flowering season, even lasting until late autumn when most of the summer flowers have faded.

The flowers, of a beautiful light blue color gathered in flower heads, open with the sun in the morning and close at noon and, if the sky is very overcast, they even remain closed.

Did you know?

Chicory was mentioned, 4000 years BC, in the Ebers papyrus, one of the oldest Egyptian texts that have come down to us.

LIFE Programme United Nations Biodiversity

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Photo by Bruno/Germany – Pixabay