Lima Bean Respect Day is on April 20, and we are eagerly preparing to celebrate with enthusiasm by doing the best thing possible and indulging in lima beans for an entire day.
Though famously referred to as ‘the butter beans,’ lima beans have many other names: the wax bean, chad bean, sieva bean, double bean, Rangoon bean, Burma bean, and Madagascar bean are among many others.
And yes, they are very much edible. Lima Bean Respect Day, however, was created to give recognition to the wonderful, tasty, nutritious legumes, lima beans. People observe this day by making delicious lima bean recipes and enjoying them with friends and family.
Limas originated from Peru, where they were grown and cultivated way before corn. Lima was named after Lima, the capital city of Peru, where the bean was first found. Limas, which have many more names than any other bean all over the world, are known as the largest among the bean family. The Andes’ Inca Empire considered limas as one of its most common and basic food.
Lima beans are so deep-rooted in the culture of the Peruvians that they have relics in the Moche people’s pottery. The Moche people were settlers of northern Peru during the 15th century. The lima bean is one of the oldest beans sourced from the Americas, remnants of which have timestamps from 6000 to 5000 B.C. Two main branches of the lima genus were domesticated in Latin America.
Its scientific name ‘Phaseolus Lunatus’ technically means ‘half-moon,’ which pertains to the bean shape. Lima bean symbolizes both war and eternal life.
Rich in protein, fiber, and other nutrients, it has the accolade of being a superfood but could also be poisonous when eaten raw.
The exact origin of this holiday is still elusive. It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: the person or group who came up with this bizarre celebration must have been lima beans aficionados. It could be that the person deemed it right to celebrate such a day because he either loved the delectable taste of this legume or truly believed in its nutritional values and health benefits.
