Belgium endive (Cichorium intybus, (1753). Sp. Pl. 2)

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: (1753). Sp. Pl. 2

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cichorium

Vegetable: True

Observations: Europe to C. Asia and W. Himalaya, Macaronesia to N. Africa

Description

Belgium endive, known scientifically as Cichorium intybus, is a leafy vegetable that belongs to the Asteraceae family. Known for its slightly bitter flavor and crisp texture, this plant holds a prominent place in various culinary traditions, particularly in European cuisine.

First described in 1753 in a seminal work on plant species, Belgium endive has since captured the interest of botanists and chefs alike. Its historical roots stretch from Europe to Central Asia and the Western Himalayas, thriving in diverse climates and regions. Additionally, it grows in Macaronesia and North Africa, showcasing its adaptability and resilience.

Belgium endive is renowned for its tightly packed, elongated leaves, which are typically pale white to light yellow in color—a result of being grown in the dark to keep the leaves tender and mild. This unique cultivation method enhances its visual appeal and adds a delicate texture to a variety of dishes.

In cooking, Belgium endive is a versatile ingredient, enjoyed raw in salads for its refreshing crunch or cooked to reveal its subtle bitterness, adding depth to recipes. It’s often paired with sweet or rich flavors, such as fruit or cheese, to balance its natural bite.

Whether it’s featured in gourmet dishes or used as a healthy addition to everyday meals, Belgium endive continues to be esteemed for its nutritional benefits and culinary potential. Its widespread growing regions underscore its importance as both a cultivated crop and a wild plant appreciated in numerous gastronomic traditions.

Common Names

Spa: achicoria
Por: almeirão, chicória-brava
Fra: barbe de capucin, chicon, chicorée, chicorée amère, chicorée blonde, chicorée de bruxelles, chicorée rouge, chicorée sauvage, endive
Eng: belgium endive, blue sailors, bunk chicory, chickory, chicory, coffee chicory, coffeeweed, common chicory, french endive, succory
Dan: blød storkenæb, bølgekronet storkenæb, cikorie, kløftet storkenæb, storrodet storkenæb
Swe: brunnäva, cikoria, fliknäva, flocknäva, mjuknäva, sallatscikoria, vägvårda
Nor: brunstorkenebb, lodnestorkenebb, sikori
Deu: chicorée, fleischkraut, gewöhnliche wegwarte, kaffeezichorie, salatzichorie, wegwarte
Ita: cicoria comune, radicchio
Cos: crispinu, erba amara
Pol: cykoria podróżnik, cykoria podróżnik siewna
Est: harilik sigur
Ara: hindabah
Hin: kasni
Sqi: kore
Fin: liuskakurjenpolvi, pehmytkurjenpolvi, sikuri, tummakurjenpolvi
Lit: paprastoji trūkažolė
Lav: parastais cigoriņš
Nld: sigorei
En: Belgium endive, Coffee chicory, Succory, Chicory, French endive, Witloof, Common Chicory, Blueweed, Chickory, Bunk Chicory, Wild Chicory, Blue sailors, Coffeeweed, Belgian endive, Wild succory, Hendibeh, Common Cichory, Radicchio
Af: Sigorei
Sq: Bresa, Kore, Çikore
Ar: هندباء برية, Hindabah, Chicoria, Hindibaa bareeya, هِنْدَبا بَرِّيَّة, Hinduba, Shikorieh
Hy: Ճարճատուկ սովորական
Az: Adi kasnı
Ba: Быуын үләне
Eu: Txikoria
Be: Цыкорыя звычайная, Мацаўнік
Bg: Синя жлъчка, Грапавоплодна синя жлъчка
My: ချီကိုရီ
Ca: Xicoira
Zh: Ju ju, 菊苣
Cv: Сив курăкĕ
Co: Erba amara, Crispinu
Hr: Cikorija
Cs: Čekanka obecná, Čekanka obecná setá
Da: Cikorie, Almindelig Cikorie, Blød Storkenæb, Bølgekronet Storkenæb, Kløftet Storkenæb, Storrodet storkenæb
Nl: Wilde cichorei, Sigorei
Eo: Amara cikorio
Et: Harilik sigur
Fi: Sikuri, Liuskakurjenpolvi, Pehmytkurjenpolvi, Tummakurjenpolvi
Fr: Chicon, Chicorée, Chicorée à café, Chicorée de Bruxelles, Chicorée sauvage, Endive, Endive witloof, Witloof, Chicorée bleue, Chicorée commune, Chicorée cultivée, Chicorée frisée, Chicorée ordinaire, Chicoree, Chicoree amere, Barbe de capucin, Chicorée amère, Chicorée blonde, Chicorée rouge, Witlof, Chicorée sauvages, Barbe-de-capucin, Chicorée glabre
Gl: Chicoria
De: Fleischkraut, Kaffeezichorie, Wegwarte, Wurzelzichorie, Salatzichorie, Chicorée, Chichorie, Gewöhnliche Wegwarte, Zichorie, Gemeine Wegwarte
El: Κιχώριο το ίντυβο
Gn: Achikória
He: עולש
Hi: कासनी, Kasni
Hu: Mezei katáng
Is: Kaffififill, Síkoría, Kaffifífill
Io: Cikorio
Ga: Siocaire
It: Cicoria, Radicchio, Cicoria comune, Cicoria a foglia, Cicoria de taglia, Cicoria selvatica, Radicchia
Kk: Кәдімгі шашырақты
Ko: 치커리
Lv: Parastais cigoriņš
Lt: Paprastoji trūkažolė
Mk: Голица
Ms: Cikori
Ml: ചിക്കറി
Se: Sihkor
No: Sikori, Brunstorkenebb, Lodnestorkenebb, Åkerstorkenebb
Nb: Sikori
Nn: Sikori
Os: Куыдзыдзæхæра
Pa: ਕਾਸ਼ਨੀ
Ps: تریز
Fa: کاسنی دشتی
Pl: Cykoria podróżnik, Cykoria podróżnik siewna
Pt: Chicória, Almeirão, Chicória-brava, Almeirao, Almeirão-verdadeiro, Chicory, Chicória-amarga, Radichio
Pt-br: Chicória
Ro: Cicoare, Чикоарэ комунэ
Ru: Цикорий обыкновенный
Sc: Cicoria
Sr: Цикорија
Sd: ڪاسني
Sk: Čakanka obyčajná
Es: Achicoria de Bruselas, Achicoria de café, Achicoria de raíz, Achicori, Navadni potrošnik, Achicoria, Achicoria amarga, Amargón, Achicoria agreste, Achicoria amargo, Radicheta
Sv: Cikoria, Sikoria, Brunnäva, Fliknäva, Flocknäva, Mjuknäva, Sallatscikoria, Vägvårda, Sikuri
Zh-tw: 菊苣
Tg: Коснӣ
Ta: சிக்கரி
Tr: Beyaz hindiba
Uk: Петрові батоги звичайні, Петрові батоги, Цикорій дикий
Ur: کاسنی, Kasni
Cy: Ysgellog, Ysgallen y Meirch, Ysgallog Gwyllt, Ysgellog Gwyllt

Synonyms

• Cichorium intybus var. eglandulosum (Freyn & Sint.)
• Cichorium intybus var. indivisum (Vis.)
• Cichorium endivia var. sativum (DC.)
• Cichorium intybus var. balearicum ((Porta) Gand.)
• Cichorium intybus var. sylvestre ((Garsault) Bisch.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Altay (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• Buryatiya (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Gulf States (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Inner Mongolia (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Irkutsk (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kamchatka (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
• Kuril Is. (introduced)
• Kuwait (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Labrador (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Mongolia (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Qinghai (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• Saudi Arabia (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• Sulawesi (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Western Sahara (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Xinjiang (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 11, 2017 by Michèle Lainé (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2006 by Henk Van Lottum (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2019 by André Hyvrier (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2017 by Laid Guemou (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2017 by Laid Guemou (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 11, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2019 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by F H (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 29, 2021 by Roman L. (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 25, 2020 by Sarah Gaillard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by F H (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 19, 2020 by Nut Hazel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2021 by Margit Busch-Jodas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 14, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2021 by F H (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Oct 25, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2008 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2019 by Marc Laurent (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 4, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 14, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Aug 16, 2019 by freyr (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 2, 2019 by A. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2021 by Morello Stefan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 11, 2019 by stéphane COLLE (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5392252)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:194533-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cichorium intybus L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Bunch

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 6.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 6