About Topinambur

Topinambur (Helianthus tuberosus), known as reed truffle, Jerusalem artichoke or Canadian potato, is a plant that belongs to the compositae and is often confused with sunflower. Indeed, it has warm yellow flowers, but smaller.
Then, our Topinambur are gnarled root tubers, with reddish peel, white pulp and taste like artichokes.
There are two different types of Topinambur: the former is bordeaux and most widespread and usually on the market from October till April; the latter is early white, on the market already from August.



TOPINAMBUR MORPHOLOGY
Topinambur is a perennial plant and survives thanks to its tuber. Its hardy and erect stalks can reach from 80 to 150 cm length. Topinambur blooms during the summer and the yellow flower heads are 9 cm in diameter. After the blossom, the plant blights, but in spring new shoots come up from the tubers.
The shape of the leaves changes along the stalk: the ones at the bottom look like hearts, the ones at the top are oval, sharp and toothed.
Topinambur is an herbaceous perennial plant which withstands cold temperatures. Some types of Topinambur are wild and weed and usually found along the edges of the streets or rivulets of water. This plant is native of northern America, but highly cultivated in Europe as well for ornamental and food purposes.



Topinambur Nutritional Composition

Download the Topinambur Nutritional Composition (pdf, 100 kB).

Topinambur is made up of:
• Water (80%);
• Carbohydrates (15% - 20%);
• Proteins (2%);
• Vitamin A, essential for the sight and the cellular differentiation; therefore it is useful for the growth, reproduction and integrity of the immune defence system.
• Vitamins B. Such vitamins are useful in case of enfeeblement, psycho-physical stress, anorexia, anaemia, alcoholism, obesity, neurological pathologies, and post-operating periods.
• Iron;
• Potassium;
• Magnesium;
• Phosphorus;
• Asparagine, an amino acid useful for alcohol metabolism;
• Arginino, a widespread amino acid useful for the cellular metabolism. It is an immune simulator, useful to heal wounds and regenerates the liver tissue;
• Choline, which shelters the cell from oxidation and cardiovascular pathologies.