Azuki bean (Vigna angularis): Vigna angularis beans have been cultivated in Korea and China since around 1000 BC and are still widely available today in various cultivars. This particular bean, also called Adzuki, is a small, typical Japanese bean used in many recipes. The beans are pureed with sugar to make anko, a preparation that is then used as a base for many sweet dishes, particularly dorayaki, renowned for its deliciousness even abroad. After soybeans, azuki beans are the second most popular legume in Japan. A productive plant and easy to grow, sow in spring.
