Chicory is a perennial herb with a bitter taste and bright blue flowers. Many people pass it by as a roadside weed. It is most commonly used as a coffee substitute, and it has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries. Its roots, leaves, and flowers are all food in one form or another.
Chicory root is high in inulin, a type of soluble fiber that helps with digestion. The plant is also loaded with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Inulin is a prebiotic, which means it helps nourish the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Research suggests chicory may help reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and even help with weight loss.
Chicory earns its place with preppers, foragers, and home gardeners who want food that grows with little help. It thrives in poor soil along roads and field edges. That makes it a free, reliable plant to know when a food shortage or supply shortage thins out store shelves. Coffee drinkers who want a backup brew in a long term pantry have good reason to know it too.
