Adzuki bean

The adzuki bean (Vigna angularis; from the Japanese アズキ（小豆） (azuki), sometimes transliterated as azuki or aduki) is an annual vine widely grown throughout East Asia and the Himalayas for its small (approximately 5 mm) bean. The cultivars most familiar in Northeast Asia have a uniform red colour, however, white, black, gray, and variously mottled varieties also are known. Scientists presume Vigna angularis var. nipponensis is the progenitor.

History

Genetic evidence indicates that the adzuki bean first became cultivated in East Asia and later crossbred with native species in the Himalayas. The earliest known archaeological evidence of the bean comes from the Awazu-kotei Ruin (Shiga prefecture) of the Japanese mid-Jōmon period of 4000 BCE, and later occurs commonly in many Jomon sites of between 4000 BCE and 2000 BCE in Japan. The analysis of the unearthed beans indicates that it first was cultivated in Japan during the period from 4000 BCE to 2000 BCE. In China and Korea, specimens from ruins date from 3000 BCE to 1000 BCE, and these are thought to be cultivated ones.