Chicory

Chicory is a lovely, woody, extremely hardy weed that grows alongside most roads in our area. In folk medicine it's known for its value for digestive issues and the roots, leaves and buds may all be eaten. It is probably most famous for its widespread use during the civil war as a coffee substitute in the south when northern blockades prevented the supply of coffee from entering southern ports. Cooks roasted and dried the roots then ground them like coffee beans. Chicory is still used as a flavor enhancer in coffee mixtures.