Boston baked beans facts for kids
Boston baked beans are a classic dish from Boston, Massachusetts. They are a type of baked beans made sweet with molasses and savory with salt pork or bacon. This tasty meal is famous for its rich, sweet, and smoky flavor.
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The Story of Boston Baked Beans
How Baked Beans Began
The idea of baking beans started a long time ago. Native Americans were already making dishes with cornbread and baked beans. When the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Colony in the early 1620s, they learned these recipes. They even added barley to the cornmeal to create what we now know as New England brown bread.
Molasses and the Trade Routes
Molasses is a thick, sweet syrup. It became a key ingredient in Boston baked beans. In the 1700s, Boston was part of a big trading system. This system involved ships carrying goods between different parts of the world. One important product was rum, which is made from molasses. Boston became a major exporter of rum.
Because molasses was so common in Boston, people started adding it to their local baked bean recipes. This is how the unique and sweet Boston baked beans we know today were created.
Saturday Night Tradition
In colonial New England, families often cooked baked beans on Saturdays. They would put the beans in brick ovens and leave them to cook slowly overnight. On Sundays, the beans were still warm. This meant people could enjoy a hot meal without having to cook on the Sabbath, which was a day of rest.
Even today, baked beans are a popular Saturday night meal in New England. They are often served with brown bread and frankfurters (hot dogs).
Boston's "Beantown" Nickname
Boston is often called "Beantown." This nickname comes from the city's famous dish, Boston baked beans. It shows how important this food has been to Boston's history and identity.
For example, from 1883 to 1906, Boston's professional baseball team was even called the Boston Beaneaters. This name was a fun nod to the city's favorite meal.
