pronounced “crone”, is an Asian member of the mint family, Labiatae, know for its edible and unusual-shaped tubers… Described as looking like a string of mutant, spiral pearls… Usually about two inches or more in length and about one-half inch in diameter, crosnes have a crunchy texture and earthy flavor… Similar to a Jerusalem artichoke in taste, crosne offers a vague, nutty sweetness reminiscent of jicama… The plant’s hairy felt-like leaves and square stems resemble those of the mint family…Native to Japan and China, crosne was introduced into Europe in the 1880s… The edible vegetable was so named because it was first cultivated in France near Crosne, the home town of Monsieur Pailleux of Crosnes, the individual credited for being the first to take the vegetable to Europe… Also called Chinese artichoke, Japanese artichoke, knot root and chorogi, crosne has recently been experiencing a renaissance in the United States as a sought-after item in the restaurant world… The bushy, dark green plant is a hardy, tuberous-rooted perennial and forms numerous fibrous roots that have attached spiral pearly-white tubers…

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