Have you ever tried, or even seen, #crosnes? Their French name, pronounced "crones," brings an image of gnarly, old women to mind, but don’t be fooled by the looks or name, they’re #delicious. Botanically known as #Stachysaffinis, is a small tuber #vegetable native to Japan. Grown from the #chorogi plant, Crosnes are also commonly known as #Chineseartichoke, #Japaneseartichoke, knot root and chorogi. An Asian member of the mint family, Labiatae, which is known for its edible and unusual-shaped tubers. Extremely labor intensive to harvest, Crosnes take hours of hands-on labor for only a few pounds of edible product. (All done by hand) Native to Japan and China, Crosnes were introduced into Europe in the 1880s. Named because it was first cultivated in France near Crosne, the home town of Monsieur Pailleux of Crosnes, the individual credited for being the first to take the vegetable to Europe. Traditional #Chinesemedicine has used both the plant and its tubers for the treatment of #cold symptoms. The word chorogi translates to "#longevity" and is highly regarded as a symbol of good luck. They're about the size of a chess piece, and they look like micro-mini Michelin men. Crosnes are a #gourmet sensation at upscale restaurants and green grocers, and they're not to be missed by adventurous eaters and market gardeners alike. They resemble a cross between #jerusalemartichokes and #waterchestnuts and are #delicious raw, pickled, stir fried or cooked. @fourstarseafood has them, and you can order online. (at Carmel, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAN_izXAVQIPbBCiOK8-2CNyvYFghECNR4edLY0/?igshid=15nvo7fk6scmd
