General Information
Standard asparagus only differs from other asparagus varieties in its size, as it is specifically grown and marketed to be 9 inches in length and 16 millimeters in diameter. Its deep pistachio-green stalks are tender at the tip and slightly woody and thick towards the end, and a slight purple blush often occurs around the stalk and throughout the conical tip. Standard Asparagus’ mildly grassy and sweet flavor matches that of its larger and smaller counterparts.
Asparagus contains more glutathione than any other fruit or vegetable. This antioxidant plays an important role in the prevention of certain cancers and diseases, nutrient metabolism and regulating DNA and protein synthesis.
History
Revered by the Egyptians, asparagus has been cultivated and eaten as a medicinal plant in Egypt for over 2,000 years. Asparagus was so cherished by the Egyptians that offerings of their crop would be used in rituals to appease their gods. In ancient Rome asparagus was grown in gardens where the stalks are said to have reached massive sizes of up to three spears per pound. Ancient Greeks and Romans used the Persian word for shoot, “asparag”, when referring to what we now call asparagus.
