The difference between green and white asparagus is that white asparagus is grown underground. The trick to deciphering between the two is that as the white asparagus grows, it is contained in a thick mound of dirt to protect the white asparagus from the sunlight, and this ensures that no chlorophyll is produced, which turns sunlight into energy. Green asparagus, on the other hand, does bask in the sunshine.
Growers permit the spears to come up from the dirt, produce chlorophyll and turn green, and this is why green asparagus has a ‘grassy’ taste. White asparagus is sweeter than the green. White asparagus, surprisingly, contains more fiber. Green asparagus spears are slim enough that they can be eaten while they are still a bit crispy, while white asparagus needs to be cooked all the way through.