Asparagus lettuce consists of a tuft of dark green leaves resembling Romaine lettuce atop a long thick stem. The leaves and stem are both edible, but are usually prepared in different ways. The outer leaves are relatively tough and bitter, and they are often discarded. The mild-tasting leaves at the tip of the asparagus lettuce look and taste like lettuce. When eating it raw, the stem has crunchiness, juiciness, and a spicy flavor similar to celery; but it is milder and more delicate. When cooked, the stem tastes more like asparagus than celery.