Chicory belongs to the Asteraceae(Compositae) family and is descended from the blue-flowering chicory. The leaves sprouted from the root, grown in the dark and therefore pale, are used as a salad. Blue flower heads, dandelion-like toothed, elongated, egg-shaped leaves, taproot reaching up to 6 cm deep into the soil.
The dried, roasted and ground root was used as a coffee substitute until the Second World War, today it is mainly used for fructose production.
The root, Cichorium intybus L radix, is used phytotherapeutically.
Cosmetics industry: see Cichorium intybus extract (INCI)