2019 Little Easy Bean Network - Come And Reawaken The Thrill Of Discovery

[Blue-Jay]

@Bluejay77 Hey Russ, what's the flavor like on the Ocean View bean?

Hi @Spork,

I really couldn't tell you how the bean tastes as I've never grown the bean by itself to create a quantity of them. Ben Cohen of Small House Farm picked the beans several years ago out of a container of mixed outcrosses that I was going to cook up and be done with them. I had actually taken that container of beans to Florida with me and knocked off half of those beans during my 2.5 month stay there. The few Ocean View beans that were in the container were so mixed with other beans that I doubt anyone could have picked out a taste difference in the batch. However I would speculate that Ocean View grown in quantity and cooked and tasted by itself would probably have the flavor of most other beans. The biggest difference I find in some beans varieties is texture.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

Speaking of cooking beans, I was doing a little cleaning in my seed basket and I found the old packet of Falcon beans you sent me. And a question came to mind. Is falcon a flageolet bean? The size and shape certainly match. I know (from you description) that the seed originally was supposed to have come from Native Seeds SEARCH (though they don't seem to carry it anymore) which would argue against it being one (since most to all of the beans they carry are/were either Native American or Spanish re-introductions, and all flageolets seem to have a French origin. But what is your opinion?

 

[flowerbug]

Hi @Spork,

I really couldn't tell you how the bean tastes as I've never grown the bean by itself to create a quantity of them. Ben Cohen of Small House Farm picked the beans several years ago out of a container of mixed outcrosses that I was going to cook up and be done with them. I had actually taken that container of beans to Florida with me and knocked off half of those beans during my 2.5 month stay there. The few Ocean View beans that were in the container were so mixed with other beans that I doubt anyone could have picked out a taste difference in the batch. However I would speculate that Ocean View grown in quantity and cooked and tasted by itself would probably have the flavor of most other beans. The biggest difference I find in some beans varieties is texture.

i would say they're going to taste like Dappled Grey as an educated guess. which is edible. texture seemed ok too. have not yet cooked up only DG's though to evaluate as a pure dish of them.

when i do i'll report back.

so far in my bean cooking and tasting experiments i'm finding that quite a few are different enough to be noticeable to someone who has a very good sense of taste. like someone who is into wines or cheeses. the most important thing is that if you are going to be tasting beans at this level then you have to cook them plain (in water only). i don't even add salt.

some do taste alike and have similar textures, but others can surprise you. i like that.

 

[flowerbug]

Speaking of cooking beans, I was doing a little cleaning in my seed basket and I found the old packet of Falcon beans you sent me. And a question came to mind. Is falcon a flageolet bean? The size and shape certainly match. I know (from you description) that the seed originally was supposed to have come from Native Seeds SEARCH (though they don't seem to carry it anymore) which would argue against it being one (since most to all of the beans they carry are/were either Native American or Spanish re-introductions, and all flageolets seem to have a French origin. But what is your opinion?

well we do know that in all cases any European or African beans coming back here are going to be reintroductions or children of expats no matter what.

 

[Blue-Jay]

@flowerbug,

I think once I read on the Native Seed Search site the Falcon was an indigenous variety. The Indians raised the bean. I think it is also a semi runner.

 

[Spork]

In reaching out to Small House about the flavor of Ocean View, they said "Its fantastic. Thats the #1 reason why we selected this variant from the cross to stabilize. Big, meaty pods.. we've really enjoyed them as dilly beans too! "

 

[flowerbug]

In reaching out to Small House about the flavor of Ocean View, they said "Its fantastic. Thats the #1 reason why we selected this variant from the cross to stabilize. Big, meaty pods.. we've really enjoyed them as dilly beans too! "

excellent news!

 

[Artorius]

In November, I received Fat Goose bean seeds from Beans and Herbs, UK. I wonder if it's not the same bean as Ma Williams. The descriptions are identical.

 

[Blue-Jay]

I will be growing Tunny and Tresnjevec from Beans And Herbs, UK this summer.

 

[Artorius]

I also got Emelia's Italian beans from them. I also saw the name Emilia's Italian. Which one is correct?