The British asparagus season is just beginning and here are six things you should know about this British super veg.
1. When does the British Asparagus season start?
You may have been tricked into believing that asparagus is grown all year round in Britain. After all, it is in our supermarkets from January right through to December. However, don’t be fooled!
The British asparagus season typically lasts from St. George’s day until the 21st June, but don’t hold us to that. As the British climate is ever changing, it is hard to know exactly when asparagus will make its first appearance.
2. Does British asparagus taste different to that grown in countries like Peru and China?
Yes – British asparagus tastes better! Nathan Dellicitt, Barfoots Farm Manager, told us why slow grown British asparagus tastes the best.
3. Why does British asparagus come in all different shapes and sizes?
It’s true that you can get a range of different sized spears all from the same plant growing under the same conditions… Strange! The reason tends to be because asparagus is hand grown and individually cut.
4. When buying British Asparagus, what should I look out for?
You want to be buying firm, green spears that have a tight tip.
5. Is asparagus good for you?
To say asparagus is good for you is an understatement. This wonderful green super veg contains no fat, no cholesterol and is low in Sodium. It’s also packed full of vitamin A, B and C and full of fiber. If that’s not enough to convince you, it can also relieve some the effects that alcohol has on the body. So next time you wake up with a sore head, ditch the greasy full English and get yourself some British asparagus!
6. Why is asparagus so expensive?
We pay a high price for asparagus because it is one of the hardest and most labour intensive vegetables to grow. Every spear has to be picked by hand and the cooler British climate means that we can’t produce the same quantities as our foreign neighbours. That means that a lot of love and care goes into producing a fairly small yield.
We’re lucky to have got our hands on some of this year’s first British asparagus. To celebrate the wonderful veggie, we will be serving “Dip Your Own” in all our pubs from Saturday 11th April. Treat yourself to some of Britain’s best asparagus from the south coast, dipped in a homemade hollandaise sauce and shaved egg and parmesan. Delish!
