Beans belong to the Fabaceae family and the Phaseoleae tribe. The Phaseolus genus comprises some 55 known species. Of the strict Phaseolus genus, only 5 species have been domesticated out of the 55 currently known. These are as follows: Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus, Phaseolus acutifolius, Phaseolus lunatus and Phaseolus polianthus. With over 14,000 strains, Phaseolus vulgaris is undoubtedly one of the species that has generated the most diversity. For Native Americans, beans were one of the "Three Sisters" - the other two being squash and corn. During archaeological excavations in caves in Peru, beans dating back 5-6,000 years before the Common Era were found. They had many ritual connotations, linked to their multitude of colors. Shelled beans are a high source of protein. They contain little methionine - an essential amino acid - which makes them incomplete. By combining them with cereals or nuts, we obtain complete proteins that the body assimilates much better. In India, for example, Dahl is eaten with rice.
