FreshPoint

Description:

Also known as Japanese artichokes, Chinese artichokes, knotroot and Chorogi, Crosnes are an heirloom member of the mint family. But there’ s no familial resemblence. First cultivated in France outside Paris, near Crosne, these unusually shaped edible tubers were very popular in Europe from their introduction in the 1880s until the 1920s. Crosnes are still cultivated in Europe but we now have California-grown Crosnes! Chefs who have used Crosnes grown in both countries are said to prefer the flavor of United States product, perhaps due to the richer soil here (in France they are grown in sand). Our grower’ s soil is sandy-loam…which as all you former members of the soil-judging team know, is the best soil for row crops, and we are thrilled with the results! Crosnes are eaten raw (their flavor when raw is somewhere between a potato and jicama with a distinct nuttiness), in salads, or stir fried, boiled, in or on soups, gratineed, as a side dish or garnish.