There are various products related to Jerusalem artichokes including raw Jerusalem artichokes, tea, chips, dried options, and supplements. With the increase in opportunities to hear about Jerusalem artichokes on TV, there are higher demands which also leadings to more products related to the plant. As a result, people are often unsure about which product to buy. Therefore, this time, we have summarized the pros and cons of Jerusalem artichokes to help people make informed decisions.
Reviewing the positive points
There are many positive reviews about Jerusalem artichokes (also known as “sunroot”). Regardless of the type of product, there seems to be an overall positive review. For fresh sunroot, people have left comments saying that they tasted delicious when used in cooking and some have even been recommending recipes. The crunchy texture of Jerusalem artichokes have been enjoyed in various cooking methods such as salads, stir-fry, simmered dishes, and fried.
Supplements are also a popular method of consumption because the inulin found in Jerusalem artichokes can help suppress the rise in blood sugar levels after meals. The frequent introductions of inulin on TV have attracted a lot of attention, especially from health-conscious individuals. In addition to the media, the reviews from those who consume these supplements often mention feeling better and comment that they want to continue because it feels healthy. Since people aged 50 and over are often concerned about their health, Jerusalem artichoke supplements may continue to receive even more attention in the future.
Moreover, it has been found that Jerusalem artichoke chips have also been leaving many positive impressions overall. Many have left comments saying that the thinly sliced Jerusalem artichoke chips can be deliciously enjoyed as a snack. When comparing the chips to other sunroot options like supplements or tea, some people comment that they found supplements and tea unpalatable while the chips were quite tasty. And some people even enjoy them so much that they make their chips at home.
Overall, it seemed like the positive reviews were prominent across the board. However, it can be difficult to choose the right product for oneself by looking only at positive reviews. So, let’s also look at some negative reviews regarding representative products of Jerusalem artichokes.
Cons of raw Jerusalem artichokes
- Difficulty in peeling the skin due to its small size.
- Difficult to handle when cooking.
- Uncertain delivery time.
- The delivered product was rotten.
In comparison to its processed forms, fresh Jerusalem artichokes tend to go bad faster and it’s difficult to prepare them. Although the skin of the sunroot is thin enough to be eaten, many people prefer to peel it because of its bitter taste. However, the size of Jerusalem artichoke is much smaller than people expect and many people find it difficult to peel and rather frustrating. As a result, especially for those who are not used to cooking or using kitchen tools, it may be challenging to cook raw Jerusalem artichokes.
Another concern when dealing with fresh sunroots is the uncertain delivery time. Normally when shopping online, undelivered products are often due to warehouse issues. In the case of Jerusalem artichokes, the product can’t be shipped due to harvest-related reasons. Since they have a limited harvest period, sunroots are a difficult crop to supply stably throughout the year leading to a shortage and difficulty in delivery.
In addition, since the vegetable doesn’t last long, some people may receive their product spoiled. While other crops can last for a few days, Jerusalem artichokes don’t have a long shelf life so it’s important to consume them as soon as possible.
Cons of Jerusalem artichoke tea
- Taste too similar to potatoes.
- The strong “earthy” taste.
- Don’t feel the effects.
- Wasn’t for me.
When reviewing the negative reviews of the Jerusalem artichoke teas, there were a lot of negative reviews regarding the taste. Since Jerusalem artichokes taste like burdock or have an earthy taste that is far from refreshing or fruity, it seems to divide people’s preferences which can be both a good and bad thing.
Another characteristic of sunroot tea is that people often drink it with the expectation of some sort of effect. When people didn’t feel any effect even after drinking it for a while, it was enough to lose motivation which is a negative aspect of the tea option. Nevertheless, even though Jerusalem artichokes are a healthy ingredient, tea is tea. It should be consumed in moderation and as a part of your daily routine, and excessive expectations are not recommended.
Cons of supplements
- Didn’t feel anything.
- Difficult to consume leads to difficulty in repetition.
- The product won’t deliver.
- It wasn’t for me.
For those taking supplements, most people hope to experience some effect, specifically the inulin that moderates the increase in blood sugar levels after meals. While TV programs cover a lot about the inulin content, it is also true that some people who take the supplements don’t feel any difference. In hopes to uncover the reason why people didn’t feel the effects, we decided to look closely at the reviews.
After further investigation, we found that many people who didn’t feel any effects had only been taking supplements for a few days to a week. It is important to remember that health foods are also just food and it’s difficult to feel any effects unless they are consumed while improving your lifestyle habits. Unfortunately, people who felt that they didn’t feel any effects were usually those who judged too soon. When looking through other people’s reviews, please make sure to consider how long each person continued to take the supplements as repetition and continuation are crucial for results.
When looking at supplements, it’s also important to consider that they can come in various forms such as tablets, capsules, powders, and drinks, and some options may be difficult to take for individuals. For example, many find difficulty in taking powders because they can be hard to swallow, cause choking, and the taste can be unique. For those that don’t like supplements, you may want to consider taking tablets that can be chewed, swallowed, or other methods that won’t directly contact your mouth.
Friendly to dietary restrictions
In general, root vegetables tend to have a high starch content, which means that they can be high in carbohydrates and calories. This is why during the wartimes, potatoes and sweet potatoes were popular food sources because of their low cost and their ability to quickly provide lots of calories. Although Jerusalem artichokes are also classified as root vegetables, they are mostly water and contain very little starch, making them a low-calorie food.
While it’s important to consume enough dietary fiber from root vegetables, there is also a concern that it can lead to consuming too many calories. With Jerusalem artichokes, people who have dietary restrictions can easily incorporate them into their meals. For this reason, Jerusalem artichokes are a great option for people following a restricted diet.
Jerusalem artichokes have a high nutritional value.
The appeal of sunroot is not only that they are rich in inulin and low in calories and that they are highly nutritious.
Other than inulin, Jerusalem artichokes also contain vitamins B, C, and E, as well as minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and sodium. Although vitamins and minerals play a very important role in human metabolism, many people are often lacking in these nutrients because they eat fewer vegetables and fruits. As a result, while many focus on the inulin found in sunroots, they are also a great food option to support those lacking in vegetables.
In addition to the high levels of vitamins and minerals contained in Jerusalem artichokes, they also contain a lot of polyphenols (known for their high antioxidant activity). A representative product containing polyphenols is wine. Since Jerusalem artichokes aren’t purple, it may seem that they don’t contain polyphenols but when cut with a knife, the surface turns red, which is proof of polyphenols.
Jerusalem artichokes are a wonderful food with not only a good balance of vitamins and minerals but also polyphenols with antioxidant properties.
Now, let’s look at some of the negative aspects of Jerusalem artichokes.
Difficult to obtain.
The biggest disadvantage of Jerusalem artichokes is the difficulty in obtaining them. Have you ever seen sunroot sold at grocery stores before? You may have never seen them in stores because they are hardly ever shipped outside of their season. Because their peak season is from November to March, they cannot be harvested during any other time. Additionally, it’s difficult to grow them in plastic greenhouses making it more difficult to consume them year-round. If someone wants to eat them at other times, they must buy dried sunroots.
Please note that this also applies when purchasing them online.
Difficulty in storing because of the perishability.
Another downside of Jerusalem artichokes is the fact that they don’t last long as other vegetables. While most root vegetables can be stored in a cool, dark place for 1-2 months, sunroots, also a root vegetable, are difficult to store for a long time even if kept in the refrigerator.
This is where underground storage comes in handy for Jerusalem artichokes. It is said that even Jerusalem artichokes can survive the winter when buried in the soil. Therefore, if you have leftover sunroots, the best way to store them would be to bury them in soil.
This can lead to other problems because unless you have a garden or are willing to buy a planter, it may be difficult for anyone who is not a devoted sunroot enthusiast to store them in this way.
Difficult to handle because of their reproductive power.
Because Jerusalem artichokes are such a strong invasive species that disrupt ecosystems when planted with other plants, they may destroy nearby plants in their quest to absorb nutrients from the soil. Therefore, when cultivating them, it is important to be cautious.
If you are considering growing Jerusalem artichokes as a hobby, please harvest them thoroughly every winter and avoid letting them grow uncontrollably in the wild.
All in all, more benefits
Although there are some drawbacks and precautions to keep in mind with Jerusalem artichokes, the benefits seem to outweigh them. Since not many people are interested in cultivating or long-term storage of Jerusalem artichokes, it is best to buy fresh ones during peak season and use dried or supplement forms during other times.