Artichoke

Hebrew: חֻרְשָׁף, אַרְטִישׁוֹק, קִנְרָס, kinrās, arṭishōk, hureshāf
Family: Compositae (Asteraceae)
Scientific Name: Cynara cardunculus

The artichoke, also called kinras or hureshaf in Hebrew, is a cultivated plant in the Compositae family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with a storage root. The tips of its fruit are thorny. The artichoke originates from the western Mediterranean. The edible portions of the plant are various sections of the flower: the soft flower receptacle (artichoke bottoms and artichoke hearts), which is the basic part from which all other flower structures develop; and the flower petals, resembling scales that cover one another. These sections are suitable for consumption after cooking.

While the name artishok is not mentioned in Rabbinic literature, several plants described in the Mishnah match the description of the artichoke, as identified by many commentators and researchers. Among the mentioned plants are kinras (the current Hebrew name for artichoke and also its scientific name), akaviyot, buchiryah, and sanariyot. These are described as thorny plants with edible sections.

Tree or Vegetable: Although the artichoke is a perennial plant, it is considered a vegetable because it is herbaceous and its stems renew each year. Therefore, it is not subject to the laws of orlah, and its blessing is borei peri ha’adamah.

Kilei zera’im & kilei hakerem (interplanting mixed species – annuals & grapevines): Following its classification as a vegetable, artichoke should be properly distanced from other edible annuals and from grapevines.

Infestation: Due to the structure of the flower, with leaves covering one another, many insects hide between the leaves. The vegetable must be thoroughly checked before consumption.

Shemitah (Sabbatical year): Even though it is considered a vegetable, since it is a perennial plant, the sefichin prohibition does not apply if the root existed before the onset of the shemitah year.

Shehechiyanu (blessing for new fruit): Artichoke is a winter vetegetable, unavailable during summer. To warrant shehechiyanu, certain Ashkenazi posekim require vegetables to be important (and it might not fit this category).