All about asparagus in Germany - Festivals, Routes and Recipes

Asparagus in Germany - it's far more than just a vegetable. When the asparagus season starts, the country opens up to festivals, markets and imaginative asparagus dishes. In some villages, the 'asparagus queen' is crowned, while in others there are competitions to see who can peel asparagus the fastest. You can drive along the asparagus roads in Germany and experience the 'white gold' first hand.

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What is asparagus?

Asparagus is a vegetable and occurs naturally in Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. The white asparagus is harvested underground, and the green asparagus is harvested above ground. Asparagus is extremely popular in the spring in Germany. For some Germans, it has gone so far as to become a status symbol in the culinary arts. 'Spargel' is the German word for asparagus.

Asparagus in Germany - green or white?

Green asparagus is most popular in the UK and the US, for example, and perhaps also in Sweden? Personally, we are most used to cooking green asparagus, which we like to fry or grill. In Germany, however, white asparagus is the most popular. White asparagus is sometimes called "white gold" or "königliche gemüse" (the king of vegetables), and is considered by many to be softer and more delicate in flavour.

Grilla sparris — Peter grilling green asparagus, photo: Helena

"Asparagus time" - the asparagus season

The asparagus season in Germany (Spargelzeit) begins in mid-April and continues until the end of June. The season ends with a feast day in honour of John the Baptist on 24 June. During the asparagus season, restaurants compete to serve imaginative asparagus dishes and Germans eat a total of 125,000 tonnes of asparagus. While there are many Germans, this is still an impressive figure!

Why do Germans love asparagus?

The Germans' love for the elongated vegetable began in the 16th century. The Romans loved asparagus, and via the monasteries the vegetable found its way up to Germany. Over time, Germans have developed asparagus into an art, and it is no longer just something to eat, but also something to celebrate!

In the areas where asparagus is grown in Germany, 'asparagus tours' are organised, where you walk between farms and try different asparagus dishes, perhaps accompanied by a schnapps. A bit like visiting vineyards! In some villages, the tradition has been taken one step further and an 'asparagus queen' is chosen. Yes, but why not?

READ MORE: Wine parties in Germany - experience the autumn wine festival
READ MORE: German specialities in different regions - don't miss these

Schwetzingen - the capital of asparagus

Located near Heidelberg in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany, Schwetzingen is considered the capital of asparagus. It was here that asparagus became 'royal', after Charles I Ludwig planted asparagus in the palace garden, to be served at selected banquets.

Schwetzingen hosts an asparagus market on the first Saturday in May (4 May 2019), where you can also try different asparagus dishes, go on a guided asparagus tour by bike, look for the town's "Spargelfrau" statue or generally get asparagus crazy. And if that's not enough, you can take the Badische Spargelstrasse, which starts right here.

2 German asparagus roads

A popular way to experience the asparagus season is to drive along one of the various 'asparagus routes', which run through areas filled with farms, festivals, museums and markets.

1. Sparrisvägen Baden

The Baden Asparagus Road (Badische Spargelstrasse) runs for 136 kilometres and is loved by asparagus connoisseurs. The route starts in Schwetzingen, continues via Reilingen, Karslruhe and Rastatt, and ends in Scherzheim. In Karslruhe you can visit palaces and museums, and in Rastatt you should not miss the largest asparagus farm in Germany.

2. The Lower Saxon asparagus route

The Lower Saxon asparagus route (Niedersaechsische Spargelstrasse) is 750 kilometres long and starts and ends in Burgdorf. This gourmet route takes you through the asparagus regions of Braunschweig, Hannover and Umland, Lüneburg Heath, Mittelweser and Oldenburg Münsterland. Some of the highlights are considered to be the medieval asparagus town of Braunschweig and the asparagus museum in Nienburg.

4 German asparagus festivals

Of course, if you want to experience asparagus in Germany, it's a good idea to head to one of the many villages and towns that organise festivals and markets.

1. asparagus market in Schrobenhausen

Schrobenhausen in Bavaria is famous for its asparagus, as it is considered to have a particularly strong and nutty flavour. Every year a asparagus market (10 April 2019), where the Queen of Asparagus will be announced. Of course, you will also find here a asparagus museum!

2. Market in the asparagus village of Walbeck

Close to the Dutch border, the village of Walbeck is transformed into an 'asparagus village' during the asparagus season. On the first Sunday in May (5 May 2019), an asparagus and crafts market is held, where you are welcomed by the 'asparagus princess'.

3rd Asparagus Festival in Bruchsal

Bruchsal, located on the Baden Asparagus Route, is said to be one of the best asparagus destinations in Baden-Württemberg. It hosts an annual asparagus festival on a weekend in May (18-19 May 2019).

4th Beelitz asparagus festival

Just outside Berlin, the asparagus town of Beelitz hosts the annual Beelitz Asparagus Festival (31 May - 2 June 2019). The town also boasts an 'asparagus museum'.

Sparrismarknad — Green and white asparagus in Germany - in long lines

White asparagus recipe

The most classic is to serve white asparagus with hollandaise sauce, but there are of course thousands and thousands of other recipes. On Germanfoods.org there are a bunch of German asparagus recipes (in English) - both classics and more creative variations. For example, how about Gin Martini with asparagus or asparagus pannacotta ...? We've also looked up a bunch of recipes on Swedish recipe sites:

With bacon and gherkin dressing - recipe at Touchline
With chopped egg and melted butter - recipe by Köket.se
With hollandaise and smoked salmon - recipe at Elle
With browned butter and almonds - recipe at YourGuide

Have you tried asparagus in Germany, or would you like to? Or maybe you have a good white asparagus recipe to share?

Images in this post, except those labelled otherwise, are from Pixabay.

27 February 2019 6:00

Food and drink, Germany

exotic food, feast, Motorhome holiday Germany, Food and drink, cooking

Helena

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33 Comments

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Eva/ Leva som Eva says:

Fun nerdiness! I would love to go on an asparagus tour! And re-evaluate the white asparagus, from the flabby preserves of my childhood... I also prefer green asparagus, and grow two plants myself. When I can harvest, it's a party! Melted butter, Parma ham and Parmesan are my go-to accompaniments.

27 February 2019 - 7:10

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  After reading about this, I myself am super keen to go on a sparrow trip 🙂 Swedish sparrow reserves can't compete ... 😉.
  
  27 February 2019 - 8:12
  
  Reply
Johnny Friskilä says:

Hmmmm, delicious. And I booked a ticket to Berlin yesterday. I wonder if there is already asparagus then 🙂.

27 February 2019 - 7:27

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Are you going to the fair in Berlin? It might be a bit before the asparagus season (which starts in April), but what do I know ...?
  
  27 February 2019 - 8:14
  
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Solan says:

On the way home from winter storage, we always (almost) visit asparagus farmer Fritz, who is also a winemaker in southern Germany.
Very tasty and practical.
We feast on both green and white asparagus...?

27 February 2019 - 8:09

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It really sounds both delicious and practical 🙂 Perfect to know which asparagus farmer to swing by!!!!
  
  27 February 2019 - 8:14
  
  Reply
Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Asparagus is big in Germany but so good it is too. We have been that period a few times White asparagus and a good piece of meat
Here in Kullabyggden we have asparagus growers of the green asparagus, have been and visited a bar singer.

27 February 2019 - 8:53

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Great that you could enjoy the asparagus in Germany! 🙂
  
  27 February 2019 - 15:19
  
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Ama de casa says:

Asparagus is soooo good! Here in Spain you see mostly green asparagus among the fresh vegetables. The white one is more common among the tinned ones.
But if we have any asparagus roads here, I don't know... 🙂 ðŸ™'

27 February 2019 - 9:02

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Hehe, haven't heard of the Spanish asparagus weasels 😉.
  
  27 February 2019 - 15:19
  
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JoY says:

It is good with white asparagus. When we have travelled in Germany in the spring, we have also stopped and bought white asparagus in the small stalls along the smaller roads. Some also have peeling machines, in with the asparagus on one side and out on the other side it comes peeled and rinsed.
We have been growing green asparagus in the garden but for longer.

27 February 2019 - 9:09

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Handy with a peeling machine! 😉
  
  27 February 2019 - 15:20
  
  Reply
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Asparagus = Spring
Last year we visited our friends south of Cologne at the end of May/beginning of June and on the last evening we ate fresh white asparagus and bacon-wrapped pork fillet (it looked just like one of your pictures).
A great food experience closer to home is Gotland in May. There we bought green asparagus along the way and enjoyed it grilled with smoked fish....
All the savings events in Germany sound great.

27 February 2019 - 9:19

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Good it sounds! 🙂 And green asparagus is also good!!!
  
  27 February 2019 - 15:21
  
  Reply
Lena i Wales says:

What a nice post. Love asparagus.
I always used to buy it from northern Germany or Holland when I worked there.
Nice ideas and recipes, thanks!

27 February 2019 - 11:53

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you liked the post Lena!
  
  27 February 2019 - 15:23
  
  Reply
Elisabeth says:

A great post! Of course, we have been to countless different asparagus parties over the years! It is something very special, which we highly recommend.

27 February 2019 - 13:15

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  How nice that you experienced these asparagus parties!
  
  27 February 2019 - 15:23
  
  Reply
Lena - gott för själen says:

Wow, I had no idea there was such a strong culture. Will have to ask my "other family" about their relationship with asparagus. You can really see in the picture with the perfectly hilly sowing what prestige there is in that, haha.

And I had no idea about the underground and overground thing either. Good to know.

Hug Lena

27 February 2019 - 17:52

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Your "other family"... are they from Germany? Can't wait to hear what they have to say! 🙂
  
  27 February 2019 - 21:20
  
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BP says:

My God, I'm soooooooo hungry for white asparagus now. What pictures! Dregel, dregel.
We probably also use mostly green asparagus for the simple reason that white asparagus is rarely good in the shops here. It is often stringy and tasteless. I definitely like white asparagus better, but as I said...
Yep, the Germans like their asparagus and wine festivals.
I know that a former blogger from Gothenburg always travelled to a village in northern Germany just to enjoy the fine white asparagus.

27 February 2019 - 20:58

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Maybe that's why we also usually eat green asparagus here ... But I promise that we have become hungry for a visit to the "asparagus country" now! 🙂
  
  27 February 2019 - 21:22
  
  Reply
Evy Knoph says:

But yeah...fun post...remember the time when you got to go to the Achema fair in Frankfurt earlier...in May....
..and lately 6 years in a row in Cologne for the handball Champions league Final 4..always around the turn of May-June and "asparagus week"..like the white asparagus... was not away last year, but this year I am booked for Final 4 and asparagus week again 31 May-3 June :-).

27 February 2019 - 21:32

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you liked the post! Also fun that you managed to dot the asparagus so many times! 🙂
  
  28 February 2019 - 5:55
  
  Reply
4000mil says:

Oh I remember that from the year I lived in Karlsruhe. All restaurants changed their menus and feasted on asparagus. Very good! 🙂

27 February 2019 - 21:37

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Oh, did I know you lived in Karlsruhe? You have to tell me! 🙂
  
  28 February 2019 - 5:56
  
  Reply
  - 4000mil says:
    
    Maybe not? 🙂 I was an exchange student in the academic year '93-94.
    
    28 February 2019 - 7:16
    
    Reply
    - Comment by post author
      
      Helena says:
      
      Aha ok! A year after I was an exchange student in Iceland then 😉 So you speak German?
      
      28 February 2019 - 7:48
      
      Reply
      - 4000mil says:
        
        Well, I understand everything, but to throw yourself into fluent German after such a long time goes like that. 🙂
        
        28 February 2019 - 20:16
Veiken says:

Yummy! We go over to Kiel every year by ferry, of course in spring so we can enjoy the white asparagus cooked in the asparagus "homeland". A tip!

28 February 2019 - 1:35

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Sounds like a very good plan! 🙂
  
  28 February 2019 - 5:56
  
  Reply
Margaretha says:

All villages and towns have a Spergel menu. Super tasty. But if you miss, buy asparagus from the asparagus kiosks that are available in most towns and buy their holandese sauce which has a very good flavour that I have not found here at home.

06 April 2019 - 0:20

Reply
Johan Jorfors says:

Sprris Festival, here we come!

22 January 2021 - 17:39

Reply

All about asparagus in Germany - Festivals, Routes and Recipes

What is asparagus?

Asparagus in Germany - green or white?

"Asparagus time" - the asparagus season

Why do Germans love asparagus?

Schwetzingen - the capital of asparagus

2 German asparagus roads

1. Sparrisvägen Baden

2. The Lower Saxon asparagus route

4 German asparagus festivals

1. asparagus market in Schrobenhausen

2. Market in the asparagus village of Walbeck

3rd Asparagus Festival in Bruchsal

4th Beelitz asparagus festival

White asparagus recipe

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33 Comments

Eva/ Leva som Eva says:

Helena says:

Johnny Friskilä says:

Helena says:

Solan says:

Helena says:

Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

JoY says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Lena i Wales says:

Helena says:

Elisabeth says:

Helena says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Evy Knoph says:

Helena says:

4000mil says:

Helena says:

4000mil says:

Helena says:

4000mil says:

Veiken says:

Helena says:

Margaretha says:

Johan Jorfors says:

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