Jerusalem Artichoke (JA) also goes by the names of Sun Choke and Sun Root. It is a member of the daisy family and has pretty yellow flowers. The JA has an edible tuber which was first cultivated by the American Indians. The French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, found them growing domestically at Cape Cod in 1605. The tubers store the carbohydrate inulin (not insulin) rather than starch. It is an important source for the fructose industry. The tubers have a consistency like potatoes, but it has a nuttier flavor. Because of the carbohydrate in the JA they have a tendency to get mushy if they are boiled. They are better if they are steamed or sliced thinly and eaten raw in a salad. A German liquor called Topinambur is distilled from the tuber. They are very high in potassium and iron.
They can be very invasive, if even a very small piece of tuber is left in the ground it will continue to grow. So give careful consideration to where you plant them.
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