Endive

Endive, or escarole (Cichorium endivia), herbaceous biennial vegetable belonging to the Compositae family. In continental Europe the term is used to refer to the closely related speciesC. intybus, chicory (Belgian or French endive). Endive is cultivated much like lettuce, although it is sometimes blanched (ie, bleached by excluding sunlight) before harvest to reduce its bitter taste.