Azuki bean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Azuki bean |
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Phaseoleae
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V. angularis
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| Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & H. Ohashi
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The azuki bean is a small, reddish-brown bean. You might also see it spelled adzuki. These beans are grown in East Asia and the Himalayas.
People often boil azuki beans with sugar to make a sweet red bean paste. This paste is a popular ingredient in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cooking. Azuki beans are enjoyed in many parts of the world. They are especially common in sweet dishes and snacks in Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam. Azuki beans have a long and interesting history.
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The Story of Azuki Beans
Azuki beans are very famous red beans in Japan. People have been eating azuki beans for a very long time. Scientists have found evidence that people ate them during the Jōmon period. Back then, azuki beans were called "shozu".
Azuki beans have been grown since the Yayoi period in Japan. The word "Azuki" first appeared in an old book called "Koziki". In old Japanese, "Aka" meant red. The beans were called "zuki" because they become soft when boiled. So, "Aka" plus "zuki" became "Azuki". This is how the bean got its name.
Azuki Beans and Good Luck
Because azuki beans are red, many old people believed they brought good luck. Azuki beans were used in many special events and ceremonies. This was true in Japan, China, and Korea.
During the Edo period in Japan, people made rice mixed with azuki beans. This dish was called "Sekihan". People often shared sekihan at important ceremonies. Azuki beans were also used as medicine because they are full of nutrients.
Today, many people in Japan still eat sekihan during celebrations. Azuki beans are also used in many Japanese sweets and cakes. Their taste and color make them perfect for desserts. So, azuki beans have been an important part of Japanese life for a very long time.
How Azuki Beans Are Used
Azuki beans are used to make a sweet bean jam. This jam is a key ingredient in many delicious foods. For example, a sweet porridge of boiled and crushed azuki beans is eaten with rice-flour dumplings.
Oval-shaped sweets are made from sticky rice and covered with azuki bean jam. Bean-jam pancakes and bean-jam filled buns are also popular snacks. Besides food, azuki beans are sometimes used inside pillows and beanbags!
Making Azuki Bean Jam
Making azuki bean jam, also known as anko, takes a few steps.
First, the azuki beans are boiled until their skin starts to stretch. Then, the beans are put into a basket with holes to drain the water. Next, the azuki beans are boiled again for a short time. This helps to remove any harsh taste. They are then drained again in the basket.
While the beans are draining, a large pan for steaming is prepared. The azuki beans are put into this pan and covered with a lid. The beans are steamed until they are soft. After steaming, you will have a soft azuki bean mash. This mash is then spread out on a cloth to dry a bit.
The next step is to put the mash back into a pan and heat it up. Once the pan is hot, the azuki mash is taken out. Sugar is then added to the warm mash. The sugar and azuki are mixed together. The natural water from the azuki beans will mix with the sugar. Finally, the azuki jam is left to cool down. Once it's cold, it's ready!
Azuki bean jam is used in many foods. For example, a fish-shaped waffle called Taiyaki is often filled with azuki bean jam. Foods made with azuki bean jam are very famous in Japan. Many Japanese people enjoy eating them.
Images for kids
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Adzuki beans, illustration from the Japanese agricultural encyclopedia Seikei Zusetsu (1804)
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Illustration with historical kana アヅキ
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See also
In Spanish: Azuki para niños
