Local speciality

DAY 59 (3 JUNE) – Spanish oyster thistle (Scolymus hispanicus) (Vejer, Spain)

For once I’ve found a thoroughly native plant. This Spanish oyster thistle, or golden thistle, is commonly found by the side of roads and paths all over Spain, except in Cantabria and the Pyrenees.

But there are records of its having been used medicinally as far back as the ancient Greek botanist Theophrastus. And now the mid-veins of the leaves are widely eaten in Spain after being boiled and then lightly fried in garlic and olive oil.

Known as tagarninas or cardillos locally, the potaje de tagarninas (tagarnina stew) is a speciality in Jerez de la Frontera – very close to here.