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Ten minutes into trekking around Cape Greco, a strange question entered my mind; “Can you eat wild asparagus?”
The short answer to this question is yes, but the journey of how I discovered asparagus in the wild was safe to eat was quite fascinating. I still remember calling home and telling my parents about the kind stranger we met after spending a month road tripping through Cyprus.
Evan and I spent the day climbing the glorious mountain in Cape Greco when an older gentlemen approached us, randomly striking up a conversation. He shared with us the history of Cyprus and how he was proud to be a Cypriot. Then, he smoothly transitioned into telling us about the vast wilderness found in Cape Greco.
This famed national forest park holds lush greenery, vast meadows, and clear blues seas with expansive views around every corner. There’s the poetic Lovers Bridge, a natural bridge the gently hangs above the water. There’s also hiking along the rocky shores to find hidden caves, mountainside perfect for scaling rocks, and trails that smoothly wind up the hillside.
I won’t go into detail here, but you can find more ideas of what to do in Cape Greco by reading this guide.
Besides the vast natural wonder Cape Greco holds, it’s also home to asparagus harvesting by locals, (aka foraging asparagus in the wild). We began the day excited for exploring this great rugged preserve and perhaps diving into the cold ocean, but ending it foraging for wild asparagus with a stranger.
Here’s what he taught us about how to pick asparagus.
Where to find wild asparagus
Address: Cape Greco National Forest Park, E307, Ayia Napa
Apparently, locals flock to Cape Greco and the surrounding areas every weekend to pick wild asparagus. The best places in the national park are along the roadside after driving past the entrance. Instead of going left toward Lover Bridge, you’ll want to go right (this is the least popular place to forage which means bigger stems!)
Another area to explore is near the thick bushy area near the Cape Greco mountain. This is the most popular spot and you’ll find other locals doing the same.
How to pick asparagus in the wild
Best times for picking: early morning and afternoon
After spotting the asparagus plants, you’ll want to gently separate the asparagus from the foliage. In the wilderness the foliage can be quite thorny so gloves and boots are a bonus for foraging abroad! Softly push the brush aside and bend the stem about 5 to 6 inches down.
It should be extremely easy to snap off. The thicker the stem means the less it’s been harvested, so if you see stems thinner than a pencil, leave them be. They’ve been over-harvested and need time to regain their tasty strength.
After harvesting, toss them in your foraging basket or backpack, then head off to find more juicy stems along the foliage. I used my Osprey backpack for foraging and it worked well. That being said I think backpacks work just as well as baskets especially when you’re traveling because it’s less things to carry. Besides I’ve never heard of someone taking a foraging vacation, but I’m sure it exists!
How to cook wild asparagus
It cooks just like asparagus bought from the grocery store, only it’s a tad more bitter, wild and you picked it yourself! (Wohoo…Give yourself a pat on the back for your first foraging experience). Some popular ways to cook it are in the oven roasted, mixed with pasta, or as crispy fries. I’ve even heard of people air-frying it!
If you’re traveling abroad, here are some easy vegan meals to cook in Airbnb with asparagus.
- Roasted chickpeas, broccoli & asparagus (cook asparagus same time as the broccoli)
- Pan sheet dinner
- Asian inspired ramen
- Zesty lemon, broccoli and asparagus pasta (cook asparagus same time as the broccoli)
- Vegetable fried rice
Not only are there so many ways to cook it, eating asparagus is an easy way to stay healthy and fit when traveling.
Beginner tips on foraging asparagus in the wild (and other plants) abroad
1. Don’t go alone.
If it’s your first time foraging, don’t try to do it alone, especially when traveling abroad. Most likely you’re not familiar with the area or the plants, so it’s best foraging practices to take a local expert with you.
One way you can find foragers is by striking up random conversations with locals, just like we did. They’ll point you in a great direction or they may even be a forager themselves. Another option is to join a meetup group or check out Airbnb experiences to find someone to teach you the ropes.
2. Try to identify the plant multiple times while foraging.
This really came in handy for us because it helped solidify what asparagus in the wild looks like. We actually began seeing it in an abundance of places both in Cyprus and when we returned to California. The key is to always look around when foraging and identity the plant as often as possible.
3. Wear boots.
Sometimes the bushes surrounding the asparagus plants can be thorny. The best way to combat this is to wear boots, long pants or thick leggings to avoid scratching yourself. You can also gently use your boots as leverage to step on the bush to get a better grip on the asparagus. Just don’t tramp the bush, we want to preserve it.
Here’s the boots and pants I like to use from Amazon. The boots also work great for snow travel or colder winter destinations.
4. Bring a foraging bag or backpack.
Personally, I prefer carrying my day pack (here’s the exact one I like to use from Amazon). If you’re foraging in your hometown, consider a foraging basket or bag. Whatever you use, try not to pack any of the plants tightly to avoid crushing them.
5. If you have gloves, bring them.
Again, the plants around the asparagus plant can be thorny, but it depends where you are. In Cyprus the bushes were extremely poky, but in California I’ve found the plants to be less thorny. While glove aren’t necessary, it’s nice to have the option.
6. Take what you need and leave some for others (animals, people, insects, environment).
Over-foraging can be problematic. It can lead to over-harvesting and destroys the plants root system, preventing it from regrowing properly the next year. While humans eat wild plants, keep in mind many other organisms and animals do too. The best way to protect the natural habitat of the plant is taking only what you need.
7. Know where to pick wild asparagus and where not to pick.
Our first time foraging was during our visit to Cape Greco in Cyprus, but wild asparagus can also be found all over the United States. California in particular has an abundance of it, I’ve even found some growing in my parents backyard and around Los Angeles. While I’ve found them in various places, I always proceed with caution when harvesting in a new area.
Remember not all areas of land are treated equally, as there’s plenty to be mindful of when picking your foraging location. There’s herbicides, chemicals, dog poo and pee — so chose your location carefully and only rummage in healthy areas. If you’re not sure, ask a local expert or read some foraging books to gain more knowledge about it.
8. Eat them slowly because they’re more potent and bitter.
I’m not sure if this holds true for every plant, but the first thing the gentlemen warned us when cooking with wild asparagus is that wild plants are bitter. After cooking with it, I’m so glad he informed us. While the asparagus was tasty, it was indeed quite bitter.
Cooking it in pasta dishes and more savory meals helped ease the flavor especially since we cook more plant-based whole food meals. I would highly recommend that if you’re a beginner forager to ease into eating wild plants. The best way to do this is to eat a couple at time to build your tolerance.
Overall, I think anytime is a good time to pick wild asparagus. The asparagus plant loves sunny weather according to Bonnie plants and the best time for picking is springtime. Both climates I’m familiar with in picking wild asparagus (California and Cyprus) have relatively mild winters and hot summers so they tend to have asparagus growing year around.
10 Amazing Things To Do & See At Cape Greco