Where It's Grown
Chicory root for inulin extraction is grown commercially mainly in Belgium, the Netherlands and northern France, regions with the fertile soil and climate conditions the crop does best in. Belgium and the Netherlands together account for the large majority of global inulin exports.
How the Fibre Is Extracted
Inulin makes up around 16-18% of the dry matter in chicory root. The roots are washed, sliced and extracted with hot water, a process similar in principle to extracting sugar from sugar beet. The resulting extract is concentrated and spray-dried into the powder form used as a food ingredient.
How It Relates to Inulin on a Label
"Chicory root fibre" and "inulin" are generally the same ingredient, described two different ways: one by source, one by chemistry. See our explainer on inulin for the structural and regulatory detail that applies regardless of which name a label uses.