About Mung Beans

Bean sprouts, served at salad bars or purchased in health food or grocery stores, are very popular. What you probably didn't know, however, was that you were eating mung beans, a tasty and nutritious
dietary addition known by the Chinese for centuries.

History

• Mung beans are originally an Asian plant known to be grown by the Chinese for around 3,000 years.

Decription

• The beans themselves are small, green and plump. They grow in pods, much like peas, but mung bean pods are black with a slight fuzziness.

Geography

• Asia is the main grower of mung beans, although they are also grown in Africa and South America. Oklahoma is the main grower of mung beans in the United States.

Nutrition

• Mung beans, like most legumes, are fairly high in protein, at 25 percent. They are also a good source of dietary fiber.

Other names

• The mung bean is known by many names, including mungo bean, mash bean, golden gram, green gram and Chinese bean sprouts.