Every year when the Easter days are coming closer and closer, one question is getting more and more important for a lot of Germans: Will it be possible to get German
asparagus for Easter dinner? To achieve this, it is necessary to have some warm springdays in the weeks before, so that the asparagus is growing and is ready to be harvested.
This year it was possible like nearly every year. And so Easter was again the start of a very special and typical season in Germany: The asparagus season or "Spargelzeit" in German is starting in April and will last until the day of the 24th of June, called Johanni. The whole country is going crazy for this white and long vegetable especially in the first weeks. Foreigners often make fun of them like in this article.
Most restaurants in whole Germany serve asparagus dishes or even have whole esparagus menues and the people love it in all kinds. There are salads, soups, main dishes (served often with potatoes and ham) and even desserts with the Queen of vegetables, as the Germans call it. And thats the reason why every German eats in average 1,6 kg asparagus during the about 10 weeks lasting "Spargelzeit".
Some of you will wonder why I write so much about asparagus in a travel blog. And you are right - but there is a travel theme about it. Due to the asparagus some parts of Germany are getting worth to travel because of this culinary reason. And so I would like to introduce four parts of Germany that are famous for asparagus and wich are worth to travel to during the German "Spargelzeit".
The first region is in the Southwest of Berlin and home of the famous Beelitzer Spargel. Here you can follow the Beelitzer Asparagus route between the towns of Schönhagen und Lehnin. On a lenght of 34 km you can visit asparagus farms, fields and even a museum. You can buy asparagus directly from the farmers or taste it in one of the restaurants. Especially on the Spargelfarm Klaistow you can get a lot of information about the cultivation and tradition of asparagus in this region. Sometimes there is a aparagus festival with music and lots of activities on the farm. During the season the restaurant is always open to taste the queen of vegetables.
Another queen you can meet in Nienburg, in the northwest of Hanover. On the Nienburger Asparagusmarket in May they elect a young girl to be the Queen of Asparagus for one year.This market is the highlight in Nienburg and the whole town is out on the streets and everybody celebrates. Those of you who like to run can participate at the Asparagusrun that goes 10 km through the town. A really good deal in the region is the Nienburger Spargelteller in a lot of restaurants. For a price of 14 € you will get 300 g asaparagus, 100 g ham with potatoes and butter. A list of the participating restaurants will you find here. Enjoy your meal!
A different expirience you can enjoy in Effeld, close to the Dutch border. Here you can try a cross border cycling tour to discover the special vegetable. The tour is starting in Wassenberg, between the city of Mönchengladbach (well known for the famous German football club Borussia Mönchengladbach and the only European city with two mainstations) and the city of Heinsberg (well known in Germany for its asparagus). You just follow the way beside the small river Rur and after a few kilometers you will reach the village of Effeld, the important asparagus village on our tour. Every year on Ascension Day the inhabitants are celebrating the Effelder Spargelfest, a huge party to honour this amazing vagetable. But also on all other days can you taste the famous Effelder Spargel in the restaurants and buy it along the roads directly from the farmers. The tour continues to the Netherlands, where you can have a nice cup of coffee in an old castle, which is now the beautiful Hotel and Restaurant Kasteel Daelenbroeck. After your tour through the beautiful landscape the tour will conclude in Wassenberg again, where you have agin the chance to taste asparagus in one of the restaurants.
These three regions are not the only ones where you can discover the secrets of the German asparagus madness. Of course there are many other like Schrobenhausen in the north of Munich, Braunschweig between Hanover and Wolfsburg or Schwetzingen near Mannheim. It doesn´t matter where you are in Germany during the Spargelzeit. There are many opportunities to taste the queen of vegetables and the important thing is, that you will try it. So do travel to Germany and taste the German Spargel. It is delicious! And for all of you who do not travel to Germany during the asaragus season I do have a link to a typical german asparagus recipe. So have a safe trip and enjoy your meal!
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