From the Greek Myth to the Thousand Ways to Cook It: The Last Days of Fresh Artichoke

The Greek myth tells that the god Zeus, married to Hera, fell in love with a girl named Cynara after seeing her roasting in the sun on the island of Kynaros. She seduced her, promoted her to goddess and opened the doors to her Olympus. Eventually she became disenchanted. She became bored and her role as a lover tired her. Without asking for permission, she decided to leave that place and return to her beaches. Angry, Zeus made her grow some scal…

The fresh artichoke enters its last weeks of season in Spain, the third world producer of this versatile and nutritious vegetable. Although its cultivation on the peninsula dates back to Roman times, it was the Arabs who boosted its expansion. Today, the largest producing areas are concentrated in Murcia (6,000 hectares), the Valencian Community (5,000 hectares, especially in Alicante) and Andalusia (1,452 hectares). In total, some 14,500 hectar…