Stachys affinis

Stachys affinis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Stachys
Species:	S. affinis
Binomial name
Stachys affinis Bunge
Synonyms
Stachys tuberifera Naudin Stachys sieboldii Miq.

Stachys affinis, the Chinese artichoke, chorogi, knotroot, artichoke betony, or crosne, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Lamiaceae. Its tuber can be grown as a root vegetable. While the plant is easy to grow, the tubers are small, convoluted, and indented, so they are difficult to cook. The thin skin is of a whitish-brown or ivory-white colour. The flesh underneath, under proper cultivation, is white and tender. Chinese poets compare it to jade beads.^{[citation needed]} It is in season generally commencing with October.

The flavor of the tubers is delicate, and they can be prepared similarly to Jerusalem artichokes in cooking. It is used as a vegetable, in salad compositions, but more so as a garnish. It has a nutty, artichoke-like flavor.

In China, the Chinese artichoke is used primarily for pickling. Its tuber is a part of Osechi cooked for celebrating Japanese New Year. Dyed red by leaves of red shiso after pickled, it is called Chorogi. In French cuisine, its cooked tuber is often served alongside dishes named japonaise or Japanese-styled.

External links

• Stachys affinis in Plants for a Future database

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 edition of The Grocer's Encyclopedia.