Did you know that the 13th edition of the Gastronomic March in Baix Llobregat has already started? And that the Prat artichoke is one of its main stars? We describe the benefits and some curiosities of the Carxofa del Prat [Prat artichoke, in Catalan] and where you can find it.
We are right between the winter and spring seasons in Catalonia, so this is the ideal time to get close to Prat artichoke and taste it in the best way! Moreover, on the occasion of the 13th edition of the Gastronomic March, several restaurants offer Km0 products to promote local food from Baix Llobregat.
Prat artichoke, grown in Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park, belongs to the Tudela white artichoke variety and has a characteristic mild and barely rough taste. It is considered the star among the crops of the central Llobregat Delta because it thrives here. The artichoke needs temperate climates and this is why the Mediterranean basin is a paradise for this plant. In particular, the Llobregat Delta area, between the sea and the mountains of the coastal range, is rich in minerals and climatically ideal for artichokes.
Do you want to know more about the history of the Prat artichoke? Read the article The Artichoke, the Star of El Prat! (in Catalan).
11 BENEFITS OF EATING ARTICHOKE
Artichokes are of high nutritional value. They contain numerous vitamins, especially B1, B2, B3, and small quantities of vitamin C. They also have substances with positive physiological effects in humans that facilitate the formation and elimination of bile, and anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-regulating effects.
Several studies, such as Chemical composition of the artichoke and evidence for its favourable effects on health (in Spanish), point out that, in addition, artichoke helps lower blood sugar levels, minimise the effects of diabetes and help to fight obesity. They also state that artichokes help eliminate toxins and uric acid, thus contributing to relieving diseases such as gout and arthritis. Finally, it is of great help in the recovery process of liver diseases.
This domesticated variety of the wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus), a species of thistle, provides so many health benefits that some pharmaceutical companies manufacture capsules with concentrated artichoke extract and market them as “phytomedicines” for a number of ailments. It truly is a superfood!
There are many health benefits to be gained from eating artichokes!
Discover more secrets of the Prat artichoke! (in Catalan)
WHERE CAN I BUY THE PRAT ARTICHOKE?
Besides its health benefits, one advantage of buying and consuming the Prat artichoke is that it is local produce, grown in the same municipality or a few kilometres from your home (if you live in Barcelona province). Thus, by consuming Prat artichokes (in spring and autumn) we encourage local and seasonal trade. This way we reduce the ecological footprint of our meals, since artichokes do not have to travel a long way from the field to the table and do not need cold storage to be preserved.
Would you like to know more about our food’s journey from the field to the table? Read the article From the garden to the plate: and you, which way do you choose?
In Barcelona province, you can buy Prat artichoke at the Farmer’s Market held every Saturday morning, from 8:00 to 14:00 hr, in Pau Casals Square, in El Prat de Llobregat. These artichokes come from the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park without any intermediary and thus are of excellent quality and very fresh to boot! Keep in mind that the Farmer’s Market is a seasonal market: the best seasons for enjoying Prat artichokes are spring and autumn.
However, the Farmer’s Market is not the only place where you can find the famous artichokes from El Prat! Most supermarkets and greengrocers in El Prat de Llobregat and other towns in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona also sell Prat artichokes, and they can even be found in other parts of Catalonia.
Moreover, during March and April, El Prat celebrates the Carxofa Prat festival with a large carxofada [or tasting of various artichoke dishes], an Artichoke Fair, a mix of jazz and artichoke and much more!
The MENJA, ACTUA, IMPACTA [EAT, ACT, IMPACT] exhibition (and all Fundesplai’s facilities) lie amidst a huge agricultural park offering a wide variety of autochthonous high-quality produce.
If you like artichokes from El Prat as much as we do, don’t hesitate to check out these recipes with artichokes (in Catalan) to discover new ways of cooking them and preparing outstanding dishes!
We close with some intriguing facts about the artichoke: the origin of the genus in its scientific name Cynara scolymus. A Greek myth tells that Zeus fell in love with a maiden called Cynara. He made her a goddess and took her to Olympus. But she missed her family very much and returned home. An angry Zeus turned her into an artichoke. Whence, the name of the genus: Cynara.
How did you like it? Did you know all the benefits of eating artichokes? Have you ever tried the Carxofa del Prat?
Come visit the MENJA, ACTUA, IMPACTA exhibition and learn all you need to know about local trade and Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park!
