# What has a heart that does not beat?

Source: https://silverapuzzles.com/riddles/what-has-a-heart-that-does-not-beat

A heart that never beats is not the kind inside a chest. The answer is something you might find at a farmers market, and its heart is the best part.

**Answer:** An artichoke.

The tender center of an artichoke is called its heart.

Hint: It is a vegetable.

## How to think about it

1. Figurative hearts show up in many places: the heart of a city, the heart of a story, the heart of a vegetable.
2. The hint says it is a vegetable, which narrows the search a lot.
3. Think of a vegetable whose edible center is sold on its own in jars and on pizzas.
4. An artichoke has a tender heart that never beats.

## Why “an artichoke” is the answer

The soft center of an artichoke, left after the leaves and fuzzy choke are removed, is called the artichoke heart. It is a core, not an organ, so it never beats. The riddle depends on the kitchen meaning of “heart”, and a lettuce heart or a head of celery would follow the same logic.

## Common wrong answers

- **A lettuce.** A lettuce also has a heart, so this is a fair alternative; the hint about a vegetable usually leads people to the artichoke.
- **A statue.** A statue has no heart at all, beating or otherwise.