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Spargel is the
GermanGerman is a West Germanic language, thus related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. It is one of the world's major languages and the most widely spoken first language in the European Union. Around the world, German is spoken by approximately 105 million native speakers and also by...
name for
asparagusAsparagus officinalis is a flowering plant species in the genus Asparagus from which the vegetable known as asparagus is obtained. It is native to most of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia...
. Most asparagus in Germany is white, as it is grown covered in soil (
hillingHilling, earthing up or ridging is the technique in agriculture and horticulture of piling soil up around the base of a plant. It can be done by hand , or with powered machinery, typically a tractor attachment....
) in order to prevent
photosynthesisPhotosynthesis is a process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of Bacteria, but not in Archaea...
. This process prevents the asparagus from turning green and results in a sweeter and more tender taste. It is generally harvested from late April to early June. Some green asparagus is available in
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
, but would most likely be called
grüner Spargel.
Spargel is very popular in
NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
,
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
,
BelgiumThe Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...
and
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
. In
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
it is known as "Königliches Gemüse" (Royal Vegetable). Germany produces 82,000 tons of asparagus a year, however that is only enough to meet 61% of its consumption demands. About half of all spargel is purchased directly from farmers' roadside stands and market stalls. When spargel is harvested in the late spring, many German cities hold festivals in celebration.
SchwetzingenSchwetzingen is a German town situated in the northwest of Baden-Württemberg, around 10 km southwest of Heidelberg and 15 km southeast of Mannheim....
claims to be the “Asparagus Capital of the World” and holds an annual Spargelfest (asparagus festival) in which it names a lucky person as Spargel Queen.
During
Spargelsaison (asparagus season), which occurs during May, Spargel is sold at numerous roadside stands and in open air markets in every town in Germany. It is also a popular item at restaurants and fresh or
frischer Spargel is advertised outside of many restaurants during
Spargelsaison.
Popular culture
- In the episode The 30% Iron Chef
"The 30% Iron Chef" is the 22nd episode in season three of Futurama.It originally aired on April 14, 2002.-Plot:Bender aspires to be a cook for the Planet Express crew, but the meals he produces are awful...
of FuturamaFuturama is an animated American sci-fi sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox network. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
, Bender's teacher's name is Helmut Spargel, a reference to the vegetable's German name.