Holy Climbing or Angel Pole Bean, 1800's German Heirloom

The Holy Climbing Bean carries two powerful legends from the heart of Europe:

• The French Relics (WWI): One popular history tells of a French priest during the First World War. To protect his church’s sacred relics from the advancing front, he buried them deep in the garden and planted white beans over the site to hide the freshly turned earth. When the beans were harvested and shelled, the priest discovered a pattern resembling a monstrance (the vessel used to hold the Blessed Sacrament) on each seed, as if the beans themselves had stood guard over the treasure.
• The English & German Christmas Tradition: At the Heritage Seed Library in Coventry, England, this variety is cherished as the "Angel Bean." It is an old German variety with a beautiful holiday tradition: families would gather to shell the beans around Christmas time, revealing the "little angel" around the hilum of each seed. They were traditionally served as a centerpiece of the Christmas feast.

This bean is a conversation starter even before it hits the cooking pot.

• The Seed: Each seed is a plump, roundish white jewel. Near the eye (hilum) is a distinctive dark red to brown marking that strikingly resembles a wide-winged angel or a monstrance.
• The Growth Habit: A vigorous pole bean, this variety is a heavy producer. The plants are exceptionally hardy and will quickly climb to 7 feet or more, creating a lush, vertical wall of green.
• The Flowers: The plant produces beautiful, pure white flowers that precede the heavy set of pods.

Unlike many dry beans that require a long commitment in the kitchen, the Holy Climbing Bean is a chef’s favorite for its efficiency:

• No Soaking Required: These beans are unique in that they have a short cooking time and do not require the traditional overnight soak.
• Flavor Profile: They possess a delicate, slightly smoky flavor and a buttery texture that makes them stand out in simple stews or as a side dish.
• Texture: They hold their shape well while cooking, ensuring the "angel" seeds look beautiful on the plate.

"The Holy Climbing Bean is a favorite at Firefly Farm because it invites us to slow down and look closer. Whether you view the marking as an angel or a monstrance, there is a meditative joy in shelling these beans—especially as a winter tradition. It’s a productive, hardy climber that thrives in our garden while providing a gourmet, smoky-flavored harvest for the winter pantry."

Provide a sturdy trellis, fence, or teepee for these vigorous vines. Because they reach maturity in 90 days, they are a reliable producer for most climates. To see the "Angel" at its best, allow the pods to dry completely on the vine until they are brittle and brown before harvesting.