Helianthus tuberosus – Sunchoke

Sunchoke, also known as Jerusalem artichoke, can be found in river floodplains and meadows with partial to full sun.

Sunchokes grow up to 12 feet tall. Leaves and stems have a tough texture. Flowers have 10-20 petals and bloom August-September. Tubers are reddish to white with white flesh.

Tubers are best dug late fall to early spring, as long as the ground is not frozen.

Tubers are high in the prebiotic inulin. They should be well cooked to avoid flatulence. After the first frost, some of the inulin will convert to fructose which is easier to digest. Sunchokes can be mashed, baked, or pickled to reveal their artichoke-like flavor.

--
Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.