P253 CEEFAX 253 Tue 8 May 21:02/20 1/3 ! "£ ASPARBGUS TIPS The eagerly awaited British Asparagus open season, which only lasts for eight weeks every year, begins this week. The prolonged warm weathjt in April gave the crop an enormous boost and growers are now confident that supplies for ftish "sparrow grass" will bj plentiful until the end of June. Imported asparagus is available all the year round, but it is tendjt British spears that gourmets adore. MoreP253 CJJFAX 253 Tue 8 May 21:13/37 2/3 ! "£ ASPARBGUS TIPS Asparagus is thought bz some to bj the most luxurious vegetable in the would and in the past was genitally served at the dining tables of the wealthy. Although our homegrown crop is still harvested by hand and it takes two years for the "crowns" to reach maturity, the increasing production means asparagus is now widely available at much more affordable prices. MoreP253 CEEFAX 253 Tue 8 May 21:24/41 3/3 ! "£ ASPARBGUS TIPS British asparagus is now carefully graded according to spear thickness - the thinnjt it is the chjapjt, so it is best to decide how you want to eat or use it before you buy. When eating asparagus whole, it needs careful cooking to ensure the tips and stems are of even tendjtnjss. Special asparagus boilers can bj bought for this - and don't forget lashings of melted butter when you sjtve it! More