Wholesale Chicory

climate
Chicory lives as a wild plant on roadsides, it’s a cool weather crop and tolerates only moderate summer temperatures. It requires well-distributed rainfall, with good drainage, or some irrigation in drier areas.

soil
Chicory grows on any type of soil, but, when cultivated grows best on mellow, deeply tilled, fertile soil or sandy loam.

growing
A moist, firm seedbed is required for Chicory. Spring seedings of Chicory are usually successful. Summer seedings have been successful in some areas with proper irrigation. You do not want to sow Chicory flower seed after the middle of August as cooling temperatures and shortening day lengths in the fall impede Chicory stand development. You may either drill or broadcast Chicory flower seed when planting although drilling is preferred because it provides a more uniform depth of planting. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep.

harvesting
Chicory harvesting should take place as late in the season as possible as there is usually a marked increase in size and weight of roots during cool weather. Care should be taken to remove all remaining pieces of roots as they become established as weeds.

Roots are washed, sliced into cubes about 2.5 cm square, and dried over fire. Final process consists of roasting the dried chicory, grinding it to a fineness suitable for blending with ground coffee.

preserving
Dried chicory root may be stored indefinitely. Ground chicory is usually packed in bulk in waterproof barrels or sacks, or in smaller packages for household use. Store in a cool, dry place.

chicory—not just for coffee
If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you’re probably familiar with chicory. It’s often added to coffee mixtures in order to add flavor and it actually somewhat counteracts the effect of caffeine. But chicory root is a good addition to your regimen for even more reasons than its ability to produce a nice cup of coffee.

Chicory is a plant that grows throughout North America and Europe. It’s attractive and actually makes a good plant for landscaping. It’s also a culinary treat when added to salads and other recipes.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) has a long history of use in traditional herbal practices and everyday preparations. Various parts of the plant—including the root, leaves, and flowers—have been incorporated into customary routines across many cultures, most notably as a beverage ingredient and as part of seasonal herbal traditions.

Historically, chicory was often prepared as a tea, juice, or roasted root beverage and consumed as part of general wellness and balance-focused practices rather than for targeted purposes. In folk traditions, it was commonly described as a tonic herb, meaning it was included regularly as part of broader lifestyle and dietary habits.

Chicory has also appeared in traditional topical preparations, where it was used in infused oils, washes, or creams as part of routine skin care practices. Its versatility made it a familiar plant in household herbalism.

Today, chicory remains well known as a coffee alternative and as a botanical with deep roots in ethnobotanical and culinary history. It continues to be used in teas, beverages, topical formulations, and educational discussions related to traditional plant use.

As with all botanicals, chicory should be used thoughtfully and in accordance with current guidelines, particularly when used in concentrated or prepared forms.

Formulas & recipes
Uses for chicory root
Roasted chicory root is the most common form of the plant, used as a coffee substitute because of the similar flavor profile. The benefits of chicory root as a coffee substitute are its lack of caffeine. Like coffee, the benefits of chicory root include the promotion of regular bowel movements and gut health. Chicory granules can be brewed in the same manner as coffee and have a similar, earthy flavor as coffee without caffeine, which is a benefit to a variety of people with caffeine sensitivities or other health issues.

Bulk chicory root can be found in a variety of health food stores and online carriers–just be sure to keep the root in an airtight container to keep the robust flavor for longer.