pigments are anthocyanins). Jamaica (“ha-
MY-ka”) is remarkable for being a
concentrated source of vitamin C, phenolic
antioxidants, and gel-forming pectin.
Squash Blossoms The large flowers of
zucchini and its relatives (p. 332) are
sometimes stuffed, and variously deep-fried
or chopped and added to soups or egg dishes.
Their aroma is musky and complex, with
green, almond, spicy, violet, and barnyard
notes.
Artichokes
The artichoke is the large flower bud of a kind
of thistle, Cynara scolymus, native to the
Mediterranean region. It was probably
developed from the cardoon, C. cardunculus,
which has small and meager buds whose base
and stem were eaten in ancient Greece.
Artichokes were a delicacy in Rome, a fact of