Violet artichoke from Castellammare di Stabia PDO

Carciofo di Castellammare, also known as “violetto di Castellammare” is a naked artichoke, it has no thorns, with big, round and globose inflorescences; the scales, that is the edible leaves, are a pinkish colour that shade into violet. This artichoke typical of the province of Naples, in particular of Castellammare, is considered a subtype of the “Romanesque” variety and is famous for the tenderness of its scales and their delicate colour. It distinguishes itself for the early ripeness, in fact it is harvested between February and early may, although between February and march the “mammarelle”, the central head, can already be picked; the forwardness of this vegetable is mentioned in many agricultural manuals that date back to the borbonic time, in which it is defined as “primaticcio” di Castellammare, since it could be picked as early as spring.