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This question has baffled scientists for over half a century. In 1956, British researchers divided the population into two categories: excretors (those whose urine smells after they eat asparagus) and nonexcretors (asparagus eaters who remain odor free). Since there’s no documentation of the asparagus-pee phenomenon before the 1700s, about the time farmers began using sulfur to fertilize soil, this and subsequent studies hypothesized that a particular gene allows people to process a sulfur-containing compound in asparagus (most likely asparagusic acid). The theory was that if you have that gene, your pee won’t stink. However, they were relying on the test subjects’ own reports and weren’t considering the subjects’ ability to smell.
In 1980, Israeli researchers performed a similar experiment but asked the nonexcretors to smell the excretors’ urine. Shockingly, they found that everyone’s urine smells after eating asparagus; it’s just that some people can’t smell it. So they, too, divided the world into two camps: perceivers and nonperceivers.
Oh, yeah. On a trip to Hawaii, my hostess ordered a wonderful Chinese dish called Chicken and Asparagus in Black Bean Sauce. It was one of the most delicious dishes I have ever had, and I now make it often here at home. Later that evening, I had to go #1....and geeeez! I thought something was terribly wrong with the plumbing! Phew what a stink. In a fit of laughter, my hostess told of this side...+READ
Oh, yeah. On a trip to Hawaii, my hostess ordered a wonderful Chinese dish called Chicken and Asparagus in Black Bean Sauce. It was one of the most delicious dishes I have ever had, and I now make it often here at home. Later that evening, I had to go #1....and geeeez! I thought something was terribly wrong with the plumbing! Phew what a stink. In a fit of laughter, my hostess told of this side affect of fresh asparagus. When I found this out, I breathed a great sigh of relief, and asked to go back to the restaurant. :)-COLLAPSE
@ JNUNZMAN - You are absolutely right about how they grow it. But white asparagus is also another variety, not just green asparagus kept in the dark.
German asparagus that is white is non colored due to it being comletely covered from the sunlight in the fields. They just let it grow longer without the sunlight and pick when it's larger diameter. I remember it being a bit milder in flavor, but similar in texture. I happened to be in Germany during the season and every restaurant has a menu featuring "spargel".
Yes, white asparagus tastes different. It is more subtle. But don't bother to buy imported white asparagus, this something that loses it's true taste extremely fast. At best it is picked in the morning and eaten for lunch or dinner. The soil is also very important, you want it sandy. The only countries were you get more or less reliable good white asparagus are Germany, some parts of France,...+READ
Yes, white asparagus tastes different. It is more subtle. But don't bother to buy imported white asparagus, this something that loses it's true taste extremely fast. At best it is picked in the morning and eaten for lunch or dinner. The soil is also very important, you want it sandy. The only countries were you get more or less reliable good white asparagus are Germany, some parts of France, Austria and perhaps the Netherlands.-COLLAPSE
Yes...Anne
What a charming column. I see that Chow's journalistic standards are as high as ever.
Living as I do near the Vale of Evesham in England, Asparagus is a premier crop.
Without doubt you will perfume the pan.
More interestingly, our asparagus is green, and slim, but German asparagus is preferred to be large and white.
Is the taste different?
Methanethiol is a byproduct produced by the metabolism of asparagus.[2] The ability to detect the presence of methanethiol is a genetic trait.[3] It is responsible for a noticeable change in the odor of urine, as soon as 15 minutes after eating asparagus.[4]
From Wikipedia
CP
I didn't know that could be possible, I thought that everyones pee would be the same as far as smell.
This is an oldie that has been answered many times
Thanks for that explanation!
From www.asparagus.org:
Why does my urine smell funny after consuming asparagus?
Most authorities feel that the compound that causes the odor in urine after consumption of asparagus is methylmercaptan, which is a sulfur-containing derivative of the amino acid, methionine. This is disputed by a few individuals who claim that the odiferous compound is asparagine-amino-succinic-acid monoamide,...+READ
From www.asparagus.org:
Why does my urine smell funny after consuming asparagus?
Most authorities feel that the compound that causes the odor in urine after consumption of asparagus is methylmercaptan, which is a sulfur-containing derivative of the amino acid, methionine. This is disputed by a few individuals who claim that the odiferous compound is asparagine-amino-succinic-acid monoamide, which is derived from the amino acid, asparagine. In either case, the product is formed as a derivative during the digestion and subsequent breakdown of beneficial amino acids that occur naturally in asparagus.
Ref: Merck Index, 862; Food Chemistry, Belitz and Grosch, pg. 271
And while Mission's comment about other bodily fluids is rather gross, it's not inaccurate.-COLLAPSE
That is sooo funny because we have even noticed that our dogs pee is very strong smelling after asparagus (yes we do feed them scraps and my children will only eat the tops!).
I did not grow up eating asparagus. After I moved out on my own, I bought and enjoyed fresh asparagus! It took me a while to make the connection to the very strong, and unavoidable odor. I nearly went to the doctor! So it's good to talk about it. Now I notice a reaction in as little as 10 minutes from eating asparagus. And a chuckle now and then is good too.
Anybody notice the result of grape snowcones?
I think even though this is a Pee comment on a food website, it is entirely appropriate. Many fine diners enjoy asparagus, and thus experience asparagus pee. It has been my experience that this conversation comes up over business conversations at a fine dining table as well, and this little quip will be fun to share next time. Thanks for the input.
It is a valid food point. In gastronomy class we talked about this at culinary school, and well, that has to do with food...
Lonedreamer- it's not like we stick our nose in the bowl after we're done! You can just smell it in the air after you do your business- sheesh!
was that actually answering the question? we still don't know why pee smells funny after eating asparagus...
same for me about the beets. i had beet juice during a cleanse, and i thought something went terribly wrong and i was going to die.
An oft quoted line by baseball great Babe Ruth: when offered chilled asparagus at a society function, he said "No thank you, ma'am. It makes my piss stink."
Dear everybody who has participated in this conversation so far:
Thank you!!! I have been going through a very stressful time in relation to my employment, and reading this article and the series of postings caused me to let loose and laugh. I suppose you could say I relieved myself of a heavy burden for a while.
Who takes the time to stop and SMELL pee? My goal is to take care of waste disposal, clean my hands, and leave. I don't stand around taking smell samples.
Interesting. For those who complained about the content of this piece, it was pretty clear from the title what the article was about. You didn't have to read it.
Besides, we're all adults, here. And, it's NOT off the topic of food.
Thanks for the beet warning, folks.
Another curious thing about the asparagus phenomenon, and I guess this might vary person to person, is the surprisingly quick transit time for that to happen. Ten minutes or so.
I am so glad to hear I am not the only person to have scared the crap (no pun intended) out of myself after eating a plate of beets!
It was all I ate for dinner one day and honestly was terrified until I figured out what was going on.
Normalheightsfoodie, I nearly had the same reaction after eating beets. Thing is, I forgot I had eaten beets, because I had had Terra Chips Sweets & Beets (delicious, by the way), and since that is more of a "potato chip" experience had forgotten that they were actually beet chips. I thought I was dying...but painlessly.
I used to work in a blood bank.
You can smell asparagus in the blood - also tobacco smoke.
Why does my head hurt after reading ridiculous articles on odorous urine on a FOOD website. How about an article on that?
I think everyone's pee does smell after eating asparagus - but not everyone can smell the smell.
This was a really funny thing to research. The ratio of excretors, nonexcretors, perceivers, and nonperceivers varies by culture, among other things. A French study found that 100% of the subjects (all native French, I believe) were excretors. If there is some gene that makes one a perceiver or nonperceiver, its the first instance found of a particular smell sensitivity. There have been plenty of...+READ
This was a really funny thing to research. The ratio of excretors, nonexcretors, perceivers, and nonperceivers varies by culture, among other things. A French study found that 100% of the subjects (all native French, I believe) were excretors. If there is some gene that makes one a perceiver or nonperceiver, its the first instance found of a particular smell sensitivity. There have been plenty of studies on the beet phenomenon, too.-COLLAPSE
I think stinky pee is a very small price to pay for the delight that is asparagus. And, um, let's just say the same goes for beets...more or less...
I do not want to tell you about the first time I had beets, I almost drove myself to the ER.
useless article. thanks cnet
I agree, some comments we should keep to ones self. But, I also thought the article was OK!
I thought this was going to be an interesting article... but there was no resolution! I really wanted to know .
Also, can people please keep their gross comments to themselves?
Don't you mean peeceivers and non-peerceivers?
Actually my Girlfriend say something else has a distinct different flavor after I eat asparagus.
Has anyone ever done research on that?
FINALLY someone answered the question. Thank you!
Please do not post stuff about pee on a food website.
I wouldn't have willingly participated in that experiment, but according to Israeli researchers, I am a perceiver, as is my mother. My father, brother and sister, however, are not. wtf?