Astéracées • Cichorium intybus

Organic Brussels Endive Chicory

"A winter treasure found in the heart of vegetable gardens, crisp and slightly bitter."

$4.49

Number of seeds 200 seeds

Originating in Belgium , and more specifically in the area around Brussels , Brussels Endive is a variety of chicory prized for its winter harvest. Its particular cultivation, which requires forcing in the dark after germination , makes it a plant well-suited to the cold seasons , offering crisp, pale, and tightly packed leaves with a delicately bitter taste .

With its compact shape and creamy-white leaves , it brightens up winter harvests and extends the diversity of the vegetable garden into the quietest months . Its cultivation requires patience, preparation, and care , but the result—a tender, fresh, and flavorful endive— fully rewards the gardener who is attentive to the rhythms of the seasons.

Growing climate: Cool temperate climate
Sowing difficulty level: Medium
Care required: requires special care for cultivation
Annotation: Forcing requires a dark and cool environment to produce white endives.

Highly prized in Belgian and French cuisine, Brussels sprouts can be enjoyed raw—in a crisp salad—as well as cooked, braised, au gratin, or in a creamy soup. They are distinguished by their characteristic bittersweet flavor, both fresh and subtle.

Its cultivation relies on an ancient, artisanal method: after an initial growth phase in open fields in the autumn, the roots are harvested and then replanted in crates or dark mounds, often in cellars or under opaque frames, protected from light. This process, called forcing, allows for the production of tightly packed, tender, white, non-chlorophyllous leaves, even in the depths of winter.

This expertise requires patience and attention, but yields a precious harvest at a time when the earth seems dormant. Stored in a cool cellar, the endives will keep for several weeks, thus prolonging their nourishing presence throughout the cold months.