Episode 13 Legumes – Beans, Peas & Lentils, Old World & New

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Listen to "013 Legumes - Old World & New" on Spreaker.

Link to the Episode:

 Episode 11 Legumes - Old World & New

by Anthony Mendoza
from Encyclopedia of Life

My biggest challenge this episode was not scaring the pants off people that new world beans can hurt you if you eat lots of the fully grown beans raw.  But also pointing out no one eats the fully grown beans raw.  

1) They are really hard!  You pretty much can't eat them raw.  
2) Even the most cursory cooking - before they are even tasty to eat, they can no longer hurt you.

Other than that - beans are old!  They have been with humans for a very long time.  There are many kinds in Europe, but few in England.  And the  17th century colonial bean selection was likely limited to what was just... there.


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