Wikipedia Article About Endive on Wikipedia Endive (Cichorium endivia) is a winter leaf vegetable which can be cooked or used in salads. It is often confused with the closely related chicory. Endives were first cultivated in the 1830s in Belgium, and France remains the largest producer of endives. Endives are part of a genus called Cichorium, made up of bitter leaf vegetables. It is divided between Cichorium endivia (Endives) and Cichorium intybus. The second includes Chicory, Belgian Endive (witloof), Radicchio and Puntarelle. "Frisée" has finely cut, frizzy leaves. "Radicchio" has red leaves.