Meanwhile, I'll get on with talking about eating, rather than excreting, this tasty vegetable. Asparagus is one of the earliest vegetables to appear in the Spring. Although available imported year-round, domestic asparagus is in its prime right now, so enjoy it while it's plentiful and priced right. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed asparagus had many medicinal qualities, including the ability to cure toothaches and prevent bee stings. Ancient Egyptians cultivated asparagus as an offering to the gods.
Many cultures tout asparagus as an aphrodisiac.
When choosing asparagus, look for firm, unbruised spears with tightly closed tips. If the tip has an 'off' smell or looks slimy, don't buy it. Use within 2 to 3 days for best quality. You can use a vegetable peeler to peel down the base of thick spears if you'd like. My favorite way to prepare asparagus is to roast them in the oven.