Celebrated on April 20th, Lima Bean Respect Day is an unofficial holiday that celebrates the lima bean (also known as a butter bean) and encourages people to eat lima beans. Lima beans are a good source of fiber, potassium, iron, and manganese. They are so nutritious that some people have claimed they are one of the healthiest foods in existence. While I don’t know about that, I do know that these beans don’t get nearly the respect they deserve. So why not celebrate the lima bean on this glorious holiday?

The History of Lima Beans

Lima beans are a legume that has been cultivated for around 6,000 years. They were named for the city in which the Spaniards first found them, and by the 15th century, lima beans had already been taken to Europe and grown. Actually, two different varieties of lima beans were grown: one in Peru and one in what would become the Southern U.S. Today, lima beans can be grown either on a bush or as a pole bean. If they’re grown on the bush, they mature faster than the pole varieties. Some of the more common bush ones are Dixie Butterpea, Jackson Wonder, and Eastland. Some of the more common pole varieties are Speckled Calico, Big Mama, and King of the Garden.

The History of Lima Bean Respect Day

Unfortunately, despite thorough research on lima beans, we were unable to discover when Lima Bean Respect Day was created or even when it began to be celebrated. Obviously, it was invented by someone who either really enjoyed lima beans or by someone who thought the nutritional value of lima beans could no longer be ignored.

Lima Bean Facts

• The official name of the lima bean is Phaseolus lunatus.
• They are named after Lima, Peru.
• Although they are named after Lima, Peru, they are pronounced differently.
• They are also called chad beans, butter beans, and butter peas.
• Lima beans were cultivated in North America by the 14th century.
• Raw lima beans should not be eaten raw due to cyanide compounds.
• Succotash is made from corn and lima beans.
• In Japan, lima beans are used to make the bean paste Shiro-an.

Celebrating Lima Bean Respect Day

You too can celebrate Lima Bean Respect Day by showing the humble lima bean a little bit of respect and incorporating it into one of your regular meals for the day. You can also educate your friends and family about the health benefits of lima beans by using the hashtag #LimaBeanRespectDay on social media.