Beans

In UK colloquial food-speak, if someone says 'beans' it only really means one thing: canned baked beans in sweet tomato sauce. Basically the world-famous Heinz style offering (and various British own-brand store versions).

Canned baked beans have become so much a part of UK culture, that they require no further information! And I realised this recently while talking to a friend from France (where it seems 'beans' rightly means, well, any kind of bean-ish legume!)

British people do actually eat (and grow) many other kinds of bean (green beans, runner beans, broad beans to name a few). But they will usually be described in a way that distinguishes them from 'beans'.

In fact the origin of today's baked bean is native American (where maple syrup was used in the sauce). And, like so many other recipes worldwide, it was admired, and adapted by others. In this case American colonists - eventually finding its way to the UK in the late 19th century via Heinz's canned exports. In fact, like today's humble orange, canned baked beans were a super-luxury item back then, sold through London's exclusive Fortnum & Mason! Today's popular UK version is less sweet. And much more accessible ;)

Brits tend to eat baked beans (always heated!) on buttered toast, as a side to other traditional dishes, or as part of a cooked breakfast. They became an integral part of traditional British breakfasts - the Full English and Scottish, and also Irish*, apparently - from the early 1900s. That's over 100 years to build their 'iconic' status in the UK!

Photo: BBC Good Food

* Yes, all these regional variations on a cooked breakfast exist!


Also on this blog:

Ipoh and Creme Caramel - the Global Dessert 

British Christmas Nosh