Today I was slightly disappointed at the farmer's market because the folks who were selling the unusual winter squash varieties last week weren't there. I wished I'd bought more last time and stored them. Perhaps they'll be there next week. But I meandered along looking for other unique vegetables or fruits. As I neared the end of the market, I spied these shiny jet black beans a gentleman had in a mason jar. They were the size of a small pea. The gentleman whose name is Don said they were Cherokee beans. Except Don would only sell just a few to each customer for planting not enough for eating. All the rest of the beans he grows he saves for himself to eat during the winter. I pondered this a while and finally I talked Don into giving me more than just a few so I could at least taste them.
This shiny jet black bean is called the Cherokee Trail of Tears Bean. When the Cherokee were driven off their land in the mountains of Georgia and North Carolina and marched across the country they could only take what they could carry. The Cherokee carried this tiny black bean variety with them. They'd been growing these black beans before Europeans came to America. This black bean was passed down generation to generation. When the few remaining Cherokee got to Oklahoma they planted this same tiny black bean. This ancient bean has been saved till today when I received it. It's as if one of my ancestors gave me this tiny black bean. Interestingly I also read these black beans have been used in jewelry and in dyeing fabric, yarn, and thread. I'll save a few of these black beans and plant them next year. Hopefully I'll grow enough to pass them on to someone else. Now how to cook a small handful of beans. Should I soak them first? Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
I would soak the beans. And hope you enjoy them, and that next year's plants thrive.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, thanks, well I will try that, I'll get the smallest saucepan to cook them in since there is such a small amount, good things come in small packages they say. Ha.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find! So glad you got those beans, and I do want a full report on how they taste. I would imagine different from regular black beans...but maybe not. Our market had asparagus beans, Asian beans and Cherokee beans, but I didn't see what they looked like. Next week I'll check again.
ReplyDeleteHi Barb, thanks, these are very tiny and very shiny, I'll let you know what they taste like. I read on someone else's blog that they had a real bean flavor not like the beans they get at the grocery so we shall see.
ReplyDeleteHello Linda,
ReplyDeleteThis is what is so good about buying from people who grow their own produce. They are passionate about their food and are always full of information.
What fun it will be to plant the seeds and watch them grow.
Hi Jane and Lance, thanks, you are so right, we are meeting lots of good folks at the farmer's market and look forward to going there each week. I can't wait to grow those seeds and I love the color of the pods too.
ReplyDeletegreat story behind the bean - I'm sure next year you will be posting new recipes using them
ReplyDeleteAre these beans easy to find?
ReplyDelete