What Famous Actress Was Castroville’s First Artichoke Queen?

March 16th is National Artichoke Hearts Day.  According to the California Artichoke Advisory Board, artichokes are a good source of antioxidants, vitamin C, folate and magnesium.

• 371 BC – Greek philosopher Theophrastus writes of artichokes growing in Sicily and Italy.
• 8th Century – The Romans and Greeks enjoy artichokes that grow abundantly around the Mediterranean.
• 1500s – Artichokes were introduced to England by the Dutch in the 1500s.
• 1530s – ‘Artichoke’ comes from the word ‘articiocco’, which is a northern Italian variation of the old Spanish word ‘alcarchofa,’ which is, in turn, a variation of the Arabic word ‘al-ḵaršūfa.’
• 1576 – Dr. Bartolomeo Boldo wrote in the “Book of Nature” that the artichoke “has the virtue of … provoking Venus for both men and women; for women making them more desirable, and helping the men who are in these matters rather tardy.”
• 16th Century – Until the 16th century, women were prohibited from eating them in many countries because they were still considered to have aphrodisiac properties.
• 19th Century – Artichokes are brought to the United States in the 19th century by French and Spanish immigrants.
• 1948 – Marilyn Monroe, then still going by her given name Norma Jean, was crowned Castroville’s first Artichoke Queen.
• 2002 – In an episode of “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” Muriel asks the Computer if he has tried Artichoke Syrup Soup for combatting his flu ‘virus.’
• The antioxidants in artichokes are very good for your liver and help promote healthy skin.  Artichokes are also high in fiber, calcium, and protein while low in calories.
• The total antioxidant capacity of an artichoke flower head is one of the highest reported for vegetables.
• Artichokes are ranked number one over all other vegetables when it comes to antioxidant levels, including anti-inflammatory antioxidants.
• Artichokes make for a great low-sodium snack and lend themselves well to other snacks like artichoke dip, as well as a pizza topping.
  
• The artichoke is the unopened “flower” bloom of a thistle plant.
• Artichokes are technically a member of the sunflower family.
• Artichoke plants are fairly large in size. They grow to be around 6 feet wide and approximately 3-4 feet tall.
• 40% of the world’s artichokes are canned or jarred.
• Artichokes are one of the oldest foods known to humans.
• California produces 100% of the United States artichoke crop, with Castroville, California calling itself the “Artichoke Center of the World.”
• If you want some artichoke leaf extract {good for making tea!} in Europe, you must have a prescription from your doctor. In America, they’re widely available.
• Artichoke leaves can be ground up and made into tea. This is very popular in Vietnam.
• The artichoke is mentioned as a garden plant in the 8th century BC by Homer and Hesiod.
• The heart is the best part of the artichoke. It is also very beneficial to the human heart because it can lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow.
• How many calories are in an artichoke? Very few: just 60 calories in a medium artichoke.
• A study from the University of Slovenia found that artichoke leaf extract may inhibit the growth of leukemia cells.
• In France artichokes are very popular deep-fried.
• There are many stuffed artichoke recipes. A common Italian stuffing uses a mixture of bread crumbs, garlic, oregano, parsley, grated cheese, and prosciutto or sausage.
• Cynar is an Italian liqueur that is made from 13 herbs and plants, but the most predominate is the artichoke! In fact, the name of the liqueur comes from the Latin name for artichoke,

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Foodimentary

Joy of Kosher

Mobile-Cuisine

Fine Dining Lovers

Ocean Mist

One Hundred Dollars a Month

Just Fun Facts

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