The navy bean, haricot bean, pearl haricot bean, Boston bean, white pea bean, or pea bean is a variety of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) native to the Americas, where it was first domesticated. It is a dry white bean that is smaller than many other types of white beans, and has an oval, slightly flattened shape. It features in such dishes as baked beans, various soups such as Senate bean soup, and bean pies. The plants that produce navy beans may be either of the bush type or vining type, depending on the cultivar.

History

The name "Navy bean" is an American term coined because the US Navy has served the beans as a staple to its sailors since the mid-1800s. In Australia, navy bean production began during World War II when it became necessary to find an economical way of supplying a nutritious food to the many troops—especially American troops—based in Queensland. The United States military maintained a large base in Kingaroy and had many bases and camps throughout south-east Queensland. It actively encouraged the widespread planting of the beans. Kingaroy is known as the Baked Bean Capital of Australia. Another popular name for the bean during this time was "the Yankee bean".

Cultivars

Navy bean cultivars include:

Nutritional value

White beans are the most abundant plant-based source of phosphatidylserine (PS) currently known. It contains notably high levels of apigenin, 452 µg/kg, which vary widely among legumes. Consumption of baked beans has been shown to lower total cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This might be at least partly explained by the high saponin content of navy beans. Saponins also exhibit antibacterial and anti-fungal activity, and have been found to inhibit cancer cell growth. Furthermore, navy beans are the richest source of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid among the common bean varieties.

Storage and safety

Dried and canned beans stay fresh longer by storing them in a pantry or other cool, dark place under 75 F. With normal seed storage, seeds should last from one to four years for replanting, with a very large timetable for cooking for well-kept seeds, nearing on indefinite. Beans that are discolored from the pure white color should be avoided, as they may have been poorly handled while they dried.