Chinese artichokes are an under-rated and little-known perennial crop that produce lots of delicious tubers, popular in Asian cooking. The Chinese artichoke plant (Stachys affinis) is known by many names, including crosne, betony, or chorogi, and is actually a member of the mint family of plants.
The crop may not be widely known, but it is one that deserves more recognition. I first came across Chinese artichokes working in the kitchen garden at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire in the UK. The kitchen garden grew vegetables to supply two on-site restaurants, serving different global cuisines, and it meant we grew and harvested a wide range of different vegetables.
