Winged Bean Seeds
Common name: Winged Bean
Scientific name: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Family: Fabaceae
Winged bean is a perennial vigorous, tropical climber growing to 3 – 4 m with mauve-blue flowers and four-angled pods with wavy margins. The pods, leaves, flowers and tubers are all edible. It is high in protein: the seeds contain 34% protein and 17% oil; the root contains 20% protein. The young leaves (top three sets of leaflets on a shoot) are cooked and eaten. The flowers taste like sweetish mushrooms. It is among the world’s most effective nitrogen-fixers.
In a 100-gram portion of cooked winged beans, there is a protein content of 10.6.
- Also known as four angled bean, goa bean, asparagus pea and Manila bean.
- Edible leaves taste like spinach.
- Crunchy beans with an asparagus like flavour.
- Beans can be eaten raw in salads. Lightly blanch beans or add to a stir fry.
- Hardy, vigorous, climbing vine growing up to 300 cm.
- Beans grow up to 30 cm length. Tender flavour when harvested at approx. 15 cm.
- Use as a cover crop to fix nitrogen levels.
- Best grown in tropical, humid climates. Commonly grown in South East Asia.
- Unlikely to grow well in cooler climates.
- Grows in a wide range of soils. Requires moisture to thrive. Tolerates acidity.
