Tag: Lima bean

The Patani, a legume widely known in the Philippines, is often mistaken for a pea, yet it belongs to an entirely different species. The definitive answer is that the Patani vegetable is a type of bean, specifically the lima bean, with distinct botanical characteristics that set it apart from peas.

Did you know that lima beans and butter beans are actually the same species, *Phaseolus lunatus*, despite their differing names? This name confusion often comes down to geography and the bean's stage of maturity, affecting their color, texture, and ideal culinary application.

Over 9,000 years ago, what we now call lima beans were cultivated in Peru, yet many still ask what's the difference between a butter bean and a lima bean. The answer lies not in their genetics, but in a mixture of geography, variety, and maturity.

The lima bean is a legume grown for its edible seeds, but depending on where you are, you might know it by a completely different name. In fact, one of the most common alternative names for a lima bean is 'butter bean,' which is particularly popular in the American South and the United Kingdom.