19 Interesting Facts About Beans

An old English tale tells the story of how Jack once made an impulsive decision—he traded a cow for a handful of beans. Though those around him criticized this move, it turned out Jack made the right choice, as the beans turned out to be magical. It’s often said that every fairy tale has a grain of truth—while growing a giant stalk from peas, lentils, or beans may not be possible in real life, these legumes are packed with beneficial nutrients.

Plants from the legume family possess healing properties: they help cleanse the body of toxins, aid digestion, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and are rich in protein and essential microelements needed for the body’s proper functioning.

Interesting Facts About Beans

1. These versatile plants grow almost everywhere in the world due to their ability to thrive in various environmental conditions. The legume family includes many species of grasses, shrubs, vines, and even trees. There are over 1,700 species by modest estimates.
2. The Mediterranean region is considered the native land of these plants.
3. Beans can retain their properties under extreme conditions. Once, scientists found a pod in the Arctic ice that was over 10,000 years old. This discovery seemed unlikely, yet botanists managed to sprout the ancient pod.
4. Despite their health benefits, beans should be consumed in moderation. In their raw form, they contain toxins harmful to human health. However, during cooking, the toxins break down, leaving behind the beneficial nutrients. The daily intake for an adult is 130-150 grams.
5. Beans have been part of the diet in many ancient cultures. Egyptians, Romans, and early Native Americans ate them more than 5,000 years ago.
6. In ancient Greece, beans were considered sacred. Many believed the souls of their deceased relatives lived in the beans.
7. Experienced cooks know never to add salt or other spices to dishes with chickpeas, soy, or other legumes, as seasoning slows down the cooking process. To speed it up, baking soda can be added.
8. Peanuts and cocoa are also part of the legume family.
9. In Mexico, a unique type of moth lays its larvae inside beans, hollowing them out. When exposed to intense sunlight, the insect is activated, causing the beans to “jump.” The same effect occurs from the warmth of human hands.
10. Legumes are well-regarded by gardeners because they don’t need soil fertilization. In fact, beans, peas, and other varieties enrich the soil with minerals and nutrients.
11. Additionally, beans produce more nitrogen than other green plants due to the special bacteria in their roots that produce this gas, essential for human respiration.
12. Some legumes are grown exclusively for decorative purposes. These plants are used in landscape design, though their pods are inedible.
13. Breeders, at the request of the navy, developed a special variety of beans with a balanced content of proteins and fats. These “Navy beans” now form the basis of many military diets, as beans are three times more caloric than potatoes and six times more than corn.
14. There are varieties of beans that, when cooked, have a smell indistinguishable from meat. These varieties are called “Akito” and “Ad Rem.”
15. In Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisines, edamame beans are used as snacks. Oily, crispy, and fragrant, they serve as an alternative to meat-based snacks.
16. Tonka beans are used as a dessert spice because of their distinctive aroma, reminiscent of vanilla, caramel, and sandalwood.
17. The most famous legume tree in our regions is the acacia. While its pods aren’t consumed, the tree offers many benefits. For instance, during peak flowering, a medium-sized tree can produce around 8 liters of honey.
18. The famous orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero earned the nickname “Cicero,” meaning “chickpea.” He received this name because of the shape of his nose—today, we might say it resembled a potato, but since potatoes weren’t known back then, his nose was compared to a bean.
19. A story once appeared in the Western press about a ship’s hold that cracked while transporting pea seeds. Over time, the peas became soaked and swelled, ultimately causing the ship to break apart from the inside.