Bean 4487 226087754 2008-07-16T19:43:52Z Cassie Puma 5918435 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/86.8.136.217|86.8.136.217]] to last version by MattieTK (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) [[Image:Heaps of beans.jpg|thumb|top|350px|Green beans]] {{otheruses}} '''Bean''' is a common name for large plant [[seed]]s of several [[genus|genera]] of the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Fabaceae]] (formerly Leguminosae) used for human food or animal feed. Although "beans" usually means the seeds of bean plants, it can also mean (especially in the US) the whole young pods of bean plants, which if picked before the pods ripen and dry, can be tender enough to eat whole, whether cooked or raw. Thus the word "green beans" means "green" in the sense of unripe (many are in fact, not green in color), as the beans inside the pods of green beans are too small to comprise a significant part of the cooked fruit. == Terminology == The term "bean" originally referred to the seed of the [[Vicia faba|broad bean]], but was later expanded to include members of the genus ''[[Phaseolus]]'', such as the [[common bean]] and the [[runner bean]], and the related genus ''[[Vigna]]''. The term is now applied in a general way to many other related plants such as [[soybean]]s, [[pea]]s, [[lentil]]s, [[kidney beans]], [[chickpea]]s (garbanzos), [[vetch]]es and [[lupin]]s. "Bean" can be used as a near-synonym of "[[Pulse (legume)|pulse]]", an edible [[legume]], though the term "pulses" is usually reserved for leguminous crops harvested for their dry grain and usually excludes crops mainly used for oil extraction (like soybeans and peanuts) or those used exclusively for [[sowing]] purposes (such as [[clover]] and [[alfalfa]]). Leguminous crops harvested green for food, such as [[snap pea]]s, [[snow pea]]s, etc., are classified as vegetable crops. In English usage, the word "beans" is also sometimes used to mean the seeds or pods of plants that are not in the family Leguminosae, but which bear a superficial resemblance to true beans, for example [[coffee bean]]s, [[castor bean]]s and [[cocoa beans]] (which resemble bean seeds), and [[vanilla bean]]s (which resemble the pods). ==History== {{Refimprove|date=June 2007}} Beans are one of the longest-cultivated plants, [[broad beans]] having been grown at least since [[ancient Egypt]], and the [[common bean]] for six thousand years in the [[Americas]]. Many modern dry beans come from old-world varieties of broad beans, but most of the kinds commonly eaten fresh come from the Americas, being first seen by [[Christopher Columbus]] during his conquest of a region of what may have been the [[Bahamas]], where they were grown in fields. One especially famous use of beans by pre-Columbian people is the [[Three Sisters (agriculture)|Three Sisters]] method of [[companion plant]] cultivation: :On the east coast of what would come to be called the United States, some tribes would grow [[maize]] (corn), beans, and [[Squash (plant)|squash]] intermingled together, a system which had originated in Mexico. The corn would not be planted in rows as it is today, but in a checkerboard/hex fashion across a field, separate patches of one to four stalks each. :Beans would be planted around the base of the developing stalks, and would vine their way up as the stalks grew. All American beans at that time were vine plants, "bush beans" having only been bred more recently. The cornstalks would work as a [[trellis]] for the beans, and the beans would provide much-needed [[nitrogen]] for the corn. :Squash would then be planted in the spaces between the patches of corn in the field. They would be provided slight shelter from the sun by the corn, and would deter many animals from attacking the corn and beans, because their coarse, hairy vines and broad, stiff leaves are difficult or uncomfortable for animals like deer and raccoons to walk through, crows to land on, et cetera. Beans were an important alternative source of [[Protein in nutrition|protein]] throughout old and new world history, and still are today. There are over 4,000 [[cultivar]]s of bean on record in the United States, alone. An interesting modern example of the diversity of bean use is [[15 bean soup]], which, as the name implies, contains literally fifteen different varieties of bean. == Types of beans == As illustrated by [[15 bean soup]], there is a great variety of beans types, including: * ''[[Vicia]]'' ** ''Faba'' or [[Vicia faba|broad bean]][[Image:Tuinboon zaden in peul.jpg|thumb|''Vica faba'' or broad beans, known in the US as fava beans]] * ''[[Vigna]]'' ** ''Aconitifolia'' or [[Moth bean]] ** ''Angularis'' or [[azuki bean]] ** '' mungo'' or [[urad (bean)|urad bean]] ** '' radiata'' or [[mung bean]] ** ''umbellatta'' or [[rice bean]] ** ''unguiculata'' or [[cowpea]] (includes the [[black-eyed pea]], [[yardlong bean]] and others) * ''[[Cicer]]'' ** ''arietinum'' or [[chickpea]] (also known as the garbanzo bean) * ''[[Pisum]]'' ** ''sativum'' or [[pea]] * ''[[Lathyrus]] * ''[[Lathyrus sativus]]'' (Indian pea) * ''[[Lathyrus tuberosus]]'' (Tuberous pea) * ''[[Lens (genus)|Lens]]'' ** ''culinaris'' or [[lentil]] [[Image:3 types of lentil.jpg|thumb|Lentils]] * ''[[Lablab]]'' ** ''purpureus'' or [[hyacinth bean]] * ''[[Phaseolus]]'' ** ''acutifolius'' or [[tepary bean]] ** ''coccineus'' or [[runner bean]] ** ''lunatus'' or [[lima bean]] ** ''vulgaris'' or [[common bean]] (includes the pinto bean, kidney bean, [[caparrones]], and many others) * ''[[Glycine (plant)|Glycine]]'' ** ''max'' or [[soybean]] * ''Psophocarpus'' ** ''tetragonolobus'' or [[winged bean]] [[Image:Psophocarpus tetragonolobus1.jpg|thumb|''Psophocarpus tetragonolobus'' (winged bean)]] * ''[[Cajanus]]'' ** ''cajan'' or [[pigeon pea]] * ''Stizolobium'' ** ''spp'' or [[velvet bean]] * ''[[Cyamopsis]]'' ** ''tetragonoloba'' or [[guar]] * ''[[Canavalia]]'' ** ''ensiformis'' or jack bean ** ''[[gladiata]]'' or sword bean * ''Macrotyloma'' ** ''M. uniflorum'' or [[horse gram]] * ''[[Lupinus]]'' or Lupin ** ''[[Lupinus mutabilis|L. mutabilis]]'' or tarwi * ''[[Erythrina]]'' ** ''E. herbacea'' or [[Coral bean]] ==Cultural aspects== The following traditional uses of beans refer to the [[Vicia faba|broad bean]]. * In some folk legends, such as in [[Estonia]] and the common [[Jack and the Beanstalk]] story, magical beans grow tall enough to bring the hero to the clouds. * The [[Grimm Brothers]] collected a story in which a bean splits its sides laughing at the failure of others. * Dreaming of a bean is sometimes said to be a sign of impending conflict, though others said they caused bad dreams. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} [[Image:South Central Farm 32.jpg|thumb|A bowl of tomatillos and beans in the pod]] * [[Pliny the Elder]] claimed that beans act as a [[laxative]]. He may have been referring to the [[Castor bean|seeds of the castor oil plant]], which contain oils used as laxatives in ancient India. * European folklore claims that planting beans on [[Good Friday]] or during the night-time is good luck. * ''"[[Beans, Beans, the Magical Fruit]]"'' is a children's song about the flatulence often experienced after eating beans. The song is noteworthy for correctly identifying the bean as a fruit, not a vegetable. * In [[Japanese language|Japanese]], "mame" (豆, マメ = "bean") may also mean something small. "Mame Chishiki" (豆知識), a Japanese phrase, which literally means "bean knowledge" (not "knowledge of beans"), is used to indicate any random trivia or miscellaneous knowledge displayed. The Japanese name for the [[Japanese beetle]] is "mamekogane" (マメコガネ), meaning "small beetle". * In New Orleans, serving a meal of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is thought to bring good luck in the upcoming year. * In Malta, eating lentils on New Years day is said to bring good fortune in terms of money for the coming year * In Nicaragua, newly weds are given a bowl of beans for good luck. * In Aruba, boiled beans mixed with [[zinc phosphide]] are seen as a means of cheap [[Rodenticide]]. * In Italy, eating lentils on New Years night is said to bring good fortune in terms of money for the coming year. ==Toxins== Some kinds of raw beans and especially red and [[kidney beans]], contain a harmful toxin (the lectin [[Phytohaemagglutinin]]) that must be destroyed by cooking. A recommended method is to boil the beans for at least ten minutes; undercooked beans may be more toxic than raw beans.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration|accessdate=2007-11-06|url=url=http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap43.html|title=Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook:Phytohaemagglutinin}}</ref> Cooking beans in a [[slow cooker]], because of the lower temperatures often used, may not destroy toxins even though the beans do not smell or taste 'bad'<ref>[http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap43.html Phytohaemagglutinin], US FDA's ''Bad Bug Book'' or ''Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook''. Notes that toxicity may be five-fold greater if heated to 80 °C than if consumed raw.</ref> (though this should not be a problem if the food reaches boiling and stays there for some time). Fermentation is used in some parts of Africa to improve the nutritional value of beans by removing toxins. Inexpensive fermentation improves the nutritional impact of flour from dry beans and improves digestibility, according to research co-authored by Emire Shimelis, from the Food Engineering Program at Addis Ababa University. The study is published in the International Journal of Food Science & Technology. Beans are a major source of dietary protein in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. (Sub Saharan Africa page, Science and Development Network website) == Flatulence == Many edible beans, including broad beans and soybeans, contain [[oligosaccharides]] (particularly [[Raffinose]] and [[Stachyose]]), a type of sugar molecule also found in [[cabbage]]. An anti-oligosaccharide [[enzyme]] is necessary to properly digest these sugar molecules. As a normal human digestive tract does not contain any anti-oligosaccharide enzymes, consumed oligosaccharides are typically digested by [[bacteria]] in the large intestine. This digestion process produces [[flatulence]]-causing gases as a byproduct. This aspect of bean digestion is the basis for the children's rhyme "[[Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit]]." Some species of [[mold]] produce alpha-galactosidase, an anti-oligosaccharide enzyme, which humans can take to facilitate digestion of oligosaccharides in the small intestine. This enzyme, currently sold in the [[United states|U.S.]] under the brand-name [[Beano (dietary supplement)|Beano]], can be added to food or consumed separately. In many cuisines beans are cooked along with natural [[carminative]]s such as [[anise]] seeds, [[coriander]] seeds and [[cumin]]. Other strategies include soaking beans in water for several hours before mixing them with other ingredients to remove the offending sugars. Sometimes [[vinegar]] is added, but only after the beans are cooked as vinegar interferes with the beans' softening. Fermented beans will not produce most of the intestinal problems that unfermented beans will, since bacteria can consume the offending sugars. == Production == [[Brazil]] Is world leader in production of Dry Bean followed by [[India]] and then [[China]]. {| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="wikitable" align=left style="clear:left" ! colspan=5|Top Ten Dry Bean Producers — 2005 |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" | Country ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Production (Int $1000) ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Footnote ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Production (MT) ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Footnote |- | {{BRA}} || 1,340,094 || C || 3,076,010 || |- | {{IND}} || 1,263,414 || C || 2,900,000|| F |- | {{PRC}} || 914,886 || C || 2,108,500 || * |- | {{MMR}} || 675,273 || C || 1,550,000 || F |- | {{MEX}} || 609,994 || C || 1,400,160 || F |- | {{USA}} || 515,943 || C || 1,184,280 || |- | {{UGA}} || 237,435 || C || 545,000 || F |- | {{IDN}} || 135,055 || C || 310,000 || F |- | {{PRK}} || 135,055 || C || 310,000 || F |- | {{KEN}} || 130,698 || C || 300,000 || F |- |colspan=5 style="font-size:.7em"|No symbol = official figure,F = FAO estimate, * = Unofficial figure, C = Calculated figure;<br> Production in Int $1000 have been calculated based on 1999-2001 international prices<br> Source: [http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/commodity.html?lang=en&item=176&year=2005 Food And Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Devision] |} {{-}} [[China]] Is world leader in production of Green Bean followed by [[Indonesia]] and then [[Turkey]]. {| border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="wikitable" align=left style="clear:left" ! colspan=5|Top Ten Green Bean Producers — 2005 |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" | Country ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Production (Int $1000) ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Footnote ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | Production (MT) ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Footnote |- | {{PRC}} || 1,030,780 || C || 2,381,300 || F |- | {{IDN}} || 364,063 || C || 830,000 || F |- | {{TUR}} || 243,440 || C || 555,000 || |- | {{IND}} || 184,225 || C || 420,000 || F |- | {{ESP}} || 105,315 || C || 240,100 || |- | {{EGY}} || 94,305 || C || 215,000 || F |- | {{ITA}} || 87,882 || C || 200,356 || |- | {{MAR}} || 43,863 || C || 100,000 || F |- | {{Bel}} || 43,863 || C || 100,000 || F |- | {{USA}} || 42,617 || C || 97,160 || F |- |colspan=5 style="font-size:.7em"|No symbol = official figure,F = FAO estimate, * = Unofficial figure, C = Calculated figure;<br> Production in Int $1000 have been calculated based on 1999-2001 international prices<br> Source: [http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/commodity.html?lang=en&item=414&year=2005 Food And Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Devision] |} {{-}} == See also == * [[Common bean]] * [[pulse (legume)|Pulses]] * [[List of edible seeds]] * [[Baked beans]] * [[Fassoulada]] == Notes and references == {{reflist}} == External links == {{commonscat|Beans}} * [http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/d8683.htm Everett H. Bickley Collection, 1919-1980] Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. * [http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon970815/skinnyon.html Discovery Online: The Skinny On Why Beans Give You Gas] * [http://www.bulgarian-guide.com/bulgarian-cuisine/bulgarian-food/bean-soup.html Bulgarian Guide: Bean Soup Recipe] * [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2006.01506.x Fermentation improves nutritional value of beans] * [http://www.foodsubs.com/Beans.html Cook's Thesaurus on Beans] [[Category:Edible legumes| ]] [[Category:Lists of foods]] [[Category:Vegan cuisine]] [[Category:Vegetarian cuisine]] [[Category:Staple foods]] [[ar:فول]] [[zh-min-nan:Tāu-á]] [[bs:Grah]] [[bg:Зърнено-бобови култури]] [[pdc:Buhn]] [[de:Bohne (Pflanze)]] [[el:Φασόλια]] [[fr:Haricot]] [[ko:콩]] [[it:Fagiolo]] [[he:שעועית]] [[nl:Boon]] [[ja:豆]] [[pl:Fasola]] [[pt:Feijão]] [[ru:Бобы]] [[sl:Fižol]] [[tr:Fasulye]] [[zh:豆类]]