Why You Might Want to Take It Slow With Sunchokes

Sunchokes, also known as Jerusalem artichokes, are a funny-looking tuber with a delicate, artichoke-like flavor, and they have been growing in popularity in recent years, popping up at farmers markets and on restaurant menus around the country. But before you go on a sunchoke binge, you should know its unofficial nickname: the Fartichoke.

Bon Appétit discovered the sunchoke’s bad reputation while talking to chef René Redzepi of

Noma

But before you write off sunchokes entirely, know that sensitivity to inulin varies from person to person and not all sunchokes contain the same amount of inulin.

Specifically, the inulin content of a sunchoke might depend on its size, or how many shoots it puts out, and the effects of the carb (which breaks down to fructose in the gut) is a lot more noticeable if you’re a person with genetic fructose issues. If you’ve noticed that apples, for instance, get things moving and shaking down below, sunchokes are probably not for you.

When in doubt, take it slow. And maybe skip the big bowl of roasted sunchokes when you’re serving dinner to guests.

• Read more: The Dark Side of Sunchokes at Bon Appétit

Related: Use Caution When Eating Escolar

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