🥒 Sword beans (Canavalia gladiata), also known as scimitar beans, are large, tropical legumes prized for their impressive size, nutritional value, and traditional medicinal uses. Though not widely farmed commercially, they’re a fascinating crop for home gardens and small farms.
🌿 Botanical Profile
- Family: Fabaceae (legume family)
- Growth habit: Vigorous climbing vine, up to 10 meters long
- Pod size: 20–60 cm long, flat and sword-shaped
- Seeds: Large, oblong, reddish-brown to white or black
- Climate: Thrives in warm, humid regions; frost-sensitive
🌱 Cultivation Tips
- Sowing time: Spring or monsoon (Kerala: June–July or Feb–March)
- Spacing: 45–60 cm between plants; 75–90 cm between rows
- Soil: Well-drained loam, pH 5.0–6.8
- Support: Needs trellis or stakes for climbing
- Harvest: Tender pods at ~75 days; mature seeds at ~6 months
🧪 Nutritional Highlights (per 100g dry seeds)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 59 g |
| Fiber | 7.4 g |
| Calcium | 158 mg |
| Iron | 7.0 mg |
| Magnesium | 480.9 mg |
| Phosphorus | 601.2 mg |
| Energy | 1,453 kJ |
💚 Health & Medicinal Uses
- Used in Ayurveda and folk medicine for:
- Digestive issues, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, obesity, and coughs
- Contains antioxidants, urease, and canavanine (a compound with antimicrobial and anti-cancer potential)
- Caution: Raw seeds contain anti-nutritional factors like canavanine and protease inhibitors. Always boil thoroughly and discard water before consumption
🍽️ Culinary Uses
- Tender pods: Stir-fried, curried, or pickled (popular in Japan and India)
- Seeds: Used in soups, stews, or fermented dishes after proper processing
- Leaves & flowers: Occasionally used as flavoring or garnish
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