Carciofo

Artichokes belong to the thistle family. The edible parts of the plant are the tender parts of the flower bud and the adjacent stalk. In fact, if you put the stem of an artichoke in water, it may flower, with the choke turning a wonderful purple colour. Artichokes grow best in the Mediterranean region, where the climate and the well-drained soil are perfect. The major areas of production in Italy are Campania, Sicily, Puglia and Lazio, but they are grown in most regions for local use. About 98 per cent of the Italian crop is exported, but Italians adore them too, so a huge number are grown; in fact, Italy is the world’s biggest producer of this vegetable.