Artichoke is probably familiar to you as a vegetable, often encountered dressed up for cocktail parties in olive oil or melted butter. Full truth be told, the Artichoke is a majestic type of thistle, native to Southern Europe and Northern Africa, its stalks growing up to 6 feet high, producing gorgeous giant purple flowers sometimes spanning more than half a foot across.
It has a distinctive, bitter flavor, and may not be an obvious choice to steep as tea – but, the bitterness is a reflection of not only its nutritive content, high in folate, minerals and vitamins, but also its ability to benefit the digestive system as a whole. If you’re considering the beneficial practice of including bitter flavors into your daily diet – Artichoke leaf tea is an excellent, nutrient-rich choice.