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| Common chicory | |
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| 1885 illustration | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Plantae |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Cichorium |
| Species: | C. intybus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cichorium intybus | |
| Synonyms | |
Synonymy | |
Common chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a somewhat woody, perennial herbaceous plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae. It usually has bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink.
It is often used as a food plant, and often as a coffee substitute. Many varieties are cultivated for salad leaves, chicons (blanched buds), or roots. The roots of variety sativum are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and food additive.
In the 21st century, inulin, an extract from chicory root, has been used in food manufacturing as a sweetener and source of dietary fibre.
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