Bitter bean on a Thai market
Bitter bean or stink bean is large tree (30 meter tall) of which the beans are used in Indonesian dishes. It belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae). The big, flat beans are inside long, often twisted pods.
Stink beans are also used in several other South East Asian countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, southern Thailand, Burma) and in north-eastern India. They have a strong smell and give a special aroma to the food in which they are used.
Names
Scientific
Parkia speciosa
English
Bitter bean
Stink bean
Twisted cluster bean
Dutch
Petehboon
French
Petai
German
Gestankbohne
Petai
Petebohne
Verdrehte Blockbohne
Thai
Satoh
Taxonomy
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Parkia
Species
Parkia speciosa (Bitter bean)
Did you know that?
- Bitter bean contains amino acids that give a strong smell to your urine. This smell can last for up to two days after eating the beans.
Crop categories
Edible seeds
Legumes
Minor crops
Subtropical crops
Tropical crops
Vegetables
Pictures
Bitter bean or Stink bean