🥬I add Chicory (Cichorium intybus) edible flowers and leaves as a bitter green in our salads. The blooms are a popular nectar source for bees and pollinators. Chicory is a nutrient-dense perennial, rich in inulin (a prebiotic fibre good for gut health) and is packed with vitamins and antioxidants.

☕ I quite enjoy Chicory root coffee - a caffeine-free coffee substitute. It is high in fibre, has an earthy, nutty flavour and is made by roasting and grinding the roots. It has a dark, intensely roasted, and slightly bitter taste with a sweet, woody, or caramel-like aroma.

Roasted chicory root can be brewed on its own or as a blend by mixing it with coffee grounds (usually a 1:4 ratio), using a French press, drip coffee maker, or espresso machine. Historically, chicory was used in France as a coffee substitute in the 1800s during shortages. Perhaps it might be one to grow just in case! 😊