Beelitzer Spargel

Appearance & taste

Beelitzer Spargel comes as blanched asparagus, white or purple, and as green asparagus, which turns green in the sun. Depending on the variety, the asparagus may turn purple at the base of the stem, on the scales and at the tip. The spears are 16 to 24 cm long and at least 8 mm thick; shorter pieces are sold as “short asparagus” or “tips”. Slight bends are allowed, and the tip is mostly closed. The asparagus is sold peeled or unpeeled.

According to the specification, Beelitzer Spargel has a strong aroma typical of asparagus, a balanced taste without excessive bitterness and particularly tender spears. Because it grows quickly, there is little time for bitter substances to form or for substances that make it woody to build up, and the spears grow straight.

Production

All asparagus varieties may be grown. Blanched asparagus is cut from the ridge, green asparagus above ground, usually once or twice a day. Growing, harvesting and preparation, that is sorting, bunching and, where applicable, peeling by hand or by machine, as well as packing take place in the area. According to the specification, the short distances from field to preparation preserve freshness, secure the cold chain and prevent breakage.

Sorting is usually done in steps of 4 mm, from 8–12 mm up to over 28 mm in thickness. The asparagus must be whole, sound, clean, fresh in appearance and smell, and practically free from bruising and pests.

Origin & history

The area covers the Beelitzer Sander in the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark and parts of the district of Teltow-Fläming. It is bounded to the north by the A2 and A10 motorways and extends east to Saarmund, Blankensee and Ruhlsdorf, south to Buchholz and Linthe and west to Brück and Golzow. The climate is continental, with little rain, a lot of sun and strong swings in temperature, from night frost to well over 25 °C within a short time. The average temperature is 8.5 °C, and 530 mm of rain falls. The light, deep sandy soils are well aerated and warm up quickly; according to the specification, the cold winters encourage winter dormancy and vigorous sprouting.

According to the specification, the master glazier and town farmer Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Hermann was the first to grow asparagus in a field in Beelitz, in 1861. From 1870 Beelitzer Spargel was sold in larger quantities at the town market. In 1908 the Beelitzer Zeitung called for a marketing cooperative to be founded to fend off price pressure from Berlin wholesalers and canning factories, and on 24 October 1910 an asparagus, fruit and horticulture association was founded. At that time around 600 growers farmed about 250 ha of asparagus. In 1927 the Beelitz region, with 450 ha, was the largest asparagus-growing area in what was then the district of Zauch-Belzig. Since 1990 the area has grown steadily and, at over 1,500 ha, forms the largest continuous growing region in Brandenburg. Beelitz calls itself the “Spargelstadt” (asparagus town), has an asparagus museum and an annual asparagus festival, and has crowned a Beelitz Asparagus Queen since 1997.