The History of Artichokes

Artichokes, specifically globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus), are native to the Mediterranean region and are actually the edible flower buds of cultivated thistles. In fact, the philosopher and botanist Theophrastus reported the cultivation of artichokes in Sicily as early as the 3rd century BC. According to Greek myth, they originated when an enraged Zeus turned his consort Cynara into an artichoke. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all used artichokes for both culinary and medicinal purposes. After the fall of the Roman Empire, artichokes fell out of favor in Europe, but it’s thought that they were still widely consumed in the Arab world during this time and eventually made their way to Spain from there. Artichokes were then rediscovered in Europe during the Renaissance and became popular among the nobility. In fact, Catherine de Medici introduced artichokes to France in the 16th century and Henry VIII was reportedly quite fond of them. However, the painter Caravaggio wasn’t such a fan — in fact, he famously attacked a waiter after being served a plate of artichokes! By the late 19th century, Italian immigrants had already brought the artichoke to California and their popularity had been well established. However, by 1935, a new New York mafioso named Ciro Terranova, also known as the “Artichoke King,” had committed kidnappings, extortion, and murder while forcing importers to sell him crates of artichokes at a fraction of their value. He then sold them at massively inflated prices. To address the situation, New York’s Mayor Fiorello la Guardia outlawed artichokes for a week. After the ban was lifted, they became even more popular. Today, artichokes remain a popular food in the United States, particularly among Italian Americans, and they are also popular in many other parts of the world.