The Midori Giant Soybean is a great bean to add to your diet and your garden. It has a very high germination success rate and is a delicious, nutritious snack.
Keep reading to learn all about this bountiful and tasty bean.
Midori Giant Soybean History
Soybeans have been cultivated for millennia. The first written record of the Midori Giant Soybean is from China in 200 BC, where they were used for medicinal purposes.
China introduced the soybean to Japan, where its popularity took off. Today, these beans are eaten on every continent, including Antarctica!
Midori Giant Soybean Characteristics
True to its name, the Midori Giant Soybean is larger than the average soybean. It’s grown in green pods with a thick, fuzzy coating. Each pod is filled with two-to-three beans.
The Midori Giant Soybean is large with a bright green coloring, like an enlarged pea. It has an oval shape and on average measures about two inches long. The inside of the pod has a slick membrane coating which keeps the bean moist and fresh.
Eating Midori Giant Soybeans
Have you ever had edamame? You know the pods and beans that make up edamame? Those are Midori Giant Soybeans.
Mind blown.
You do have to cook them first, though. Raw soy protein is considered poisonous. For best results, dump the pods into a pot of salted boiling water (salt is optional) for about seven minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt when finished. You can also microwave or steam them.
Midori Giant Soybeans have been described as having a buttery taste. They also have a twinge of sweetness and are classified as having an umami taste. Good edamame will have soft crunch to them. They’re firmer than a pea, but still soft.
Please note: Only the bean should be eaten. The pods are not edible nor digestible. They are a choking hazard. To eat edamame, break open the pod, remove the beans, and plop them in your mouth.
Edamame makes a great appetizer or can be an easy snack. You can also toss the beans into a soup or salad for extra flavor and nutrition.
Kid and Pet-friendly, too
Edamame is a fantastic snack to make for your kids. It’s infinitely healthier than chips and cookies and whatever else is lurking in your pantry.
While kids aren’t known for enjoying vegetables, the sprinkle of sea salt on top should make them more palatable. As an added bonus, having to peel the pods to get the beans counts as playing with your food!
If your children have any allergies to soybeans, then they should not eat these.
Midori Giant Soybeans are also safe for pet consumption, though they don’t need to be added to your cat or dog’s diet. Their palates were developed not to need greens. Because of their fat content, your pets may be curious about them, but don’t try to feed soybeans to them.
Are Midori Giant Soybeans Healthy?
These beans pack a big nutritional punch!
One cup is packed with eighteen grams of protein, which is ⅓ of the average person’s daily protein needs. That one cup also contains eight grams of fat, which is low. They have one gram of saturated fat, which accounts for less than ten percent of the average daily allotment.
They’re also dense with fiber, iron, and several vitamins and minerals, which keep your immune system strong and aid in digestion.
In addition to providing needed nutrients, they can also help you stay healthy. They’ve been shown to help lower cholesterol – just make sure not to use too much salt on them. They’re a great snack for people with diabetes because they can keep blood sugar levels low.
Studies have found that eating Midori Giant Soybeans on a regular basis can aid in reducing the chances of certain types of cancer, as well as reducing menopausal symptoms like bone density loss.
Where to Buy Them for Eating
If you want Midori Giant Soybeans to eat, frozen edamame can be purchased at grocery stores. Edamame is usually sold frozen to lock in freshness. For fresh edamame, Asian supermarkets may be your best bet. Or you can go to a restaurant and get them as an appetizer.
Growing Midori Giant Soybeans
Giant isn’t just referring to their size. It could also describe their yield.
Midori Giant Soybeans are known for having a high germination rate and a high yield. Many casual gardeners have reported a 100% success rate with germination. That is, every soybean seed they plant produces a healthy crop. Without much effort, you can be drowning in Midori Giant Soybeans.
These beans can acclimate to nearly any climate except for extreme heat or cold. At maturity, the plant will reach up to two feet tall and will be well-branched. The stems are sturdy and typically don’t require stakes to hold them up; however, your mileage may vary here, so it’s best to have stakes on hand just in case.
You can germinate Midori Giant Soybeans inside and then transfer into your garden, or you can plant them directly. In either case, spring or summer are the best seasons to plant. Get them in the ground before the first frost of the season to give them the best chance of survival.
When you’re ready, plant seeds one inch deep and six inches apart. You should start seeing sprouts in two weeks and full-grown plants in two months. Plant them in a spot with well-drained soil that gets plenty of sunlight.
Where to Buy Seeds
Seeds are inexpensive and can be purchased through a nursery or online distributor. You can also check your local library, many of which have seed libraries filled with free seed packets.
We highly recommend Midori Giant Soybean seeds from one of our favorite online retailers for seeds, True Leaf Market!
Enjoy Midori Giant Soybeans!
For a prolific crop and a delicious snack, give Midori Giant Soybeans a try. These beans may not be magic, but they’re still worth climbing a beanstalk for.
Check out our Bean Plants page to learn everything you need to know for growing and eating nearly every kind of bean out there.