Chicory is a bitter leafy plant in the daisy family whose common culinary varieties include endive, radicchio, and escarole, along with the root form used to make a coffee substitute. The leaves are eaten raw in salads or cooked, prized for a crisp texture and bitter, earthy flavor that contrasts well with rich or creamy ingredients like cheese, cured meats, and nuts, as well as acidic dressings. The root, dried and roasted, is ground into "chicory coffee," a practice especially associated with New Orleans.