Radicchio

History

Pliny the Elder claimed 'radicchio' was useful as a blood purifier and an aid for insomniacs in Naturalis Historia. In fact, 'radicchio' contains intybin, a sedative/analgesic, as well as a type of flavonoid called anthocyanin which is used for making dye-sensitized solar cells.

Modern cultivation of the plant began in the fifteenth century, in the Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino regions of Italy, but the deep-red 'radicchio' of today was engineered in 1860 by the Belgian agronomist Francesco Van den Borre, who used a technique called imbianchimento (whitening), preforcing, or blanching to create the dark red, white-veined leaves: 'radicchio' plants are taken from the ground and placed in water in darkened sheds, where lack of light and ensuing inhibition of chlorophyll production cause the plants to lose their green pigmentation.

Varieties

The varieties of 'radicchio' are named after the Italian regions where they originate: the most ubiquitous variety in the United States is 'radicchio' di Chioggia, which is maroon, round, and about the size of a grapefruit.

'Radicchio rosso di Treviso' resembles a large red Belgian endive.

Other varieties include 'Tardivo', and the white-colored 'radicchio di Castelfranco', both of which resemble flowers and are only available in the winter months, as well as 'Gorizia' (also known as "Rosa di Gorizia"), 'Trieste' (Cicoria zuccherina or Biondissima) and 'Witloof/Bruxelles' (also known as Belgian endive, and "chicon/endive" in French). 'Radicchio' farmers of the Veneto have sought to have Protected Geographical Status applied to the names of some radicchio varieties including 'Tardivo'.

Culinary arts

In Italian cuisine, it is usually eaten grilled in olive oil, or mixed into dishes such as risotto. It can also be served with pasta, or be used in strudel, as a poultry stuffing, or as an ingredient for a tapenade.

As with all chicories, its roots, after roasting and grinding, can be used as a coffee substitute or coffee additive.

Toxicity

According to traditional folklore, long-term use of chicory as a coffee substitute may damage human retinal tissue, with dimming of vision over time and other long-term effects. Modern scientific literature contains little or no evidence to support or refute this claim. Root chicory contains volatile oils similar to those found in plants in the related genus Tanacetum which includes Tansy, and is likewise effective at eliminating intestinal worms. All parts of the plant contain these volatile oils, with the majority of the toxic components concentrated in the plant's root.

Studies indicate that ingestion of chicory by farm animals results in reduction of worm burdens, which has prompted its widespread use as a forage supplement. There are only a few major companies active in research, development, and production of chicory varieties and selections. Most of them are in New Zealand.

Cultivation

'Radicchio' is easy to grow but performs best in spring (USDA Zone 8 and above) and fall (everywhere) gardens. It prefers more frequent but not deep watering, the amount of water varying based on soil type. Infrequent watering will lead to a more bitter tasting leaf. However, for fall crops the flavor is changed predominantly by the onset of cold weather (the colder, the mellower), which also initiates the heading and reddening process in traditional varieties. There are newer, self-heading varieties whose taste is not yet as good as a traditional variety which has matured through several frosts or freezes (e.g., Alouette). 'Radicchio' matures in approximately three months. However, it can be made to stand through a UK or West European winter, and the head will regenerate if cut off carefully above ground level, so long as the plant is protected against severe frost. A light-excluding cover, e.g. an inverted pot, may be used during the latter phases of growth to produce leaves with a more pronounced colour contrast, simultaneously protecting against frost and cold winds. Traditionally in the UK, the first cutting of all chicory heads was simply thrown away, and the tender, forced, second head was for the table. However, improved varieties of 'radicchio', e.g. Rosso di Verona, and generally milder winters allow the West European cultivator to harvest two or more crops from a single planting.