Jerusalem artichokes — also called sunchokes or sunroots — are knobbly, nutty tubers prized for their sweet, crunchy texture and prebiotic fibre (inulin). They’re delicious roasted, tossed raw into salads, or planted in the garden for a low-maintenance, high-yield crop. If you want to buy starter tubers in South Africa, we sell convenient 5-packs so you can plant and enjoy your own harvest
Why do people love Jerusalem artichokes?
- Prebiotic fibre (inulin): Great for gut bacteria and overall digestion — inulin acts as a prebiotic (food for healthy gut microbes).
- Low glycemic impact: Because of their inulin content, sunchokes usually have a gentler effect on blood sugar than starchy tubers. (Still check with a health professional if you have diabetes.)
- Versatile in the kitchen: Eat raw (thinly sliced), roast, steam, mash, or pickle; they can replace potatoes in many recipes with a sweeter, nuttier flavor.
- Garden-friendly: Hardy, productive, and easy to propagate from tubers — a few plants give a large harvest.
Quick Cooking Ideas
- Roasted sunchokes: Toss quartered tubers with olive oil, salt, and rosemary; roast 30–40 min until golden.
- Sunchoke mash: Steam then mash with butter and a touch of cream for a sweeter mash than potato.
- Raw slaw/salad: Thinly slice raw sunchokes and toss with lemon, fennel, and apples for crunch.
- Watch our process from start to finish
Planting & Growing In A Nutshell
- Plant tubers in well-draining soil after the last frost, eyes up, 10–15 cm deep.
- Space 30–45 cm apart; plants can spread and become perennial — contain them if you don’t want them to naturalize.
- Harvest in late autumn (after plants die back) for the best tuber size; leave some in the ground to multiply.
Storage
- Keep tubers cool and slightly humid in the fridge or a root cellar — they store well for weeks if not washed until use.
What Should You Know About Jerusalem Artichokes?
- Gas/bloating: Inulin can cause gas for some people when they first eat sunchokes. Start with small servings and increase gradually.
Where To Buy Jerusalem Artichokes
Buy Rapha’s 5-pack Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers — perfect for starting a garden or trying them in the kitchen.
