Cynara scolymus 1:1 extract: artichoke as a classic bitter
The artichoke on your plate is the flower bud of a thistle-like plant that grows around the Mediterranean. Herbalists tend to look at the leaf instead. It tastes far more bitter than the bud, largely because of cynarin and related compounds that concentrate in the foliage. Southern Europe has used artichoke leaf as a bitter herb for centuries, including as a base for bitter aperitifs.
This bottle holds that leaf in liquid, concentrated form. The 1:1 label refers to the ratio the tincture was made at: one part plant material per part of finished product. You taste it straight away. A few drops in water or fruit juice are enough to bring out the bitter note clearly. The bottle contains 10 ml and has a dropper, so small amounts are easy to measure.
Use and storage
Follow the instructions on the label and shake the bottle before use. Keep the tincture cool, dry and dark, out of reach of young children. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or pharmacist first. A varied diet and a healthy lifestyle remain the starting point; herbal extracts are no substitute for either.
About the Avalon herbal tinctures
The 1:1 extracts form a long list of single herbs, each in the same 10 ml bottle, which makes them easy to compare side by side. Alongside Cynara scolymus, Avalon Magic Plants stocks Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile), Valeriana officinalis (valerian), Mentha piperita (peppermint) and Ginkgo biloba. Everything leaves our warehouse in discreet packaging.
