The artichoke (Cynara scolymus l.) is a plant of the Asteraceae family native to the Mediterranean basin.
The world's largest producer of artichokes is Italy and the major production areas are in Apulia, Sicily, and Sardinia.
The wild artichokes were known since the times of the Greeks and Romans with the name of "Cynaria".
Legend tells that a beautiful violet and green-eyed nymph, Cynara, dared to resist the advances of Jupiter.
The god, for vengeance, transformed the beautiful nymph in the thorny green-purple plant same as the colour of her eyes.
Already in the 15th century there were artichokes on Italian tables.
Catherine de Medici introduced artichokes in France along with broccoli and cabbage, when she married King Henry II.
Even Louis XIV, the "Sun King", was a great artichoke-eater.
Artichokes contain water and plenty of carbohydrates and minerals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium.
They are rich in vitamin B1, excellent for liver and kidney and in vitamin B3, which is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and to metabolize carbohydrates.