barba bianca

English translation: chicory root

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:barba bianca
English translation:chicory root
Entered by: transwebtrans

13:11 Dec 20, 2009
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Botany
Italian term or phrase: barba bianca
I bought this in a Conad in Tuscany a short while ago, and although it looks rather like a parsnip it doesn't taste much like one. Was this a freak of nature? Or does anyone know what the actual term is in English?
william wooderson
chicory root
Explanation:
My curiosity got the better of me. I rang the very nice people at the Conad in Carrara, who explained that the root is also known as "radice amara". This put me onto various other web sites, including one which describes the local "radice amara" fair at Soncino in the province of Cremona and conveniently provices a photo of the tuber in question, which William can verify.

Our friend isn't salsify after all. It's a local Tuscan variety of chicory root.
Selected response from:

Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 07:17
Grading comment
Yes I reckon chicory root is our guy - thank you again to everyone for your enthusiastic response!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4chicory root
Giles Watson
3salsify
Giles Watson


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
salsify


Explanation:
If we're talking about a parsley root shape, the name suggests "goatsbeard" aka salsify, a root vegetable that comes in several shades, the most common being purple (scorzanera). If William's "barba bianca" tastes vaguely of oysters (which it probably won't if you fry it as the recipe below suggests), this could well be our mysterious tuber.

Of course, some kind soul who lives in Tuscany could simply pop into, or ring up, their local Conad to check ;-)

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Note added at 19 hrs (2009-12-21 08:30:03 GMT)
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My curiosity got the better of me. Irang the very nice people at the Conad in Carrara, who explained that the root is also known as "radice amara". This put me onto various other web sites, including:

http://issuu.com/promedia/docs/pdf_sito_n_8_del_24-10-2008

which describes the local "radice amara" fair at Soncino iin the province of Cremona and conveniently provices a photo of the tuber in question, which William can verify.

Our friend isn't salsify after all. It's a local Tuscan variety of chicory root.

HTH

Giles


    Reference: http://www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/4372/barba-massese-ba...
    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_salsify
Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 07:17
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
chicory root


Explanation:
My curiosity got the better of me. I rang the very nice people at the Conad in Carrara, who explained that the root is also known as "radice amara". This put me onto various other web sites, including one which describes the local "radice amara" fair at Soncino in the province of Cremona and conveniently provices a photo of the tuber in question, which William can verify.

Our friend isn't salsify after all. It's a local Tuscan variety of chicory root.


    Reference: http://issuu.com/promedia/docs/pdf_sito_n_8_del_24-10-2008
Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 07:17
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Yes I reckon chicory root is our guy - thank you again to everyone for your enthusiastic response!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  claudiocambon: Talk about going to the source!
4 hrs

agree  transwebtrans: chicory root - yes that would make sense, after all it tastes bitter like chicory. Thank you for clarifying that!
4 hrs

agree  Dr Lofthouse
7 hrs

agree  Rachel Fell: but a tap root rather than a tuber ;-) - nice link
17 hrs
  -> OK, if you want to be picky ;-)
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