İspir Beans - Erzurum

The world-famous İspir Bean is characterized by its quick cooking time, tendency to shed its skin, and its high-yielding nature—both in terms of size and structure. It is easy to digest and has a distinctive flavor. They are 8–9 mm in size (caliber), and annual production ranges from 300 to 500 metric tons. Due to the mountainous terrain and the lack of widespread mechanized farming, the İspir Dry Bean is produced under very challenging conditions. Planting generally begins in May with the plowing of the fields. No fertilizers or chemicals other than animal manure are used in the cultivation of these beans. After hilling in June, the beans are staked. Since the growth of the İspir Bean requires a particularly delicate phase, it must be watered periodically, once a week. To achieve a good yield, it is essential to water more frequently, especially during the flowering period, and never to skip a watering. Depending on seasonal conditions, the harvest time is typically late September or early October. Since mechanized farming is not widespread, the harvest is done by hand. After the beans are pulled from the field, they are sorted by hand, one by one, and left to dry. Once dried, the beans are separated from their pods. After separation, they are sifted using a sieve. As a final step, foreign matter and small beans are removed. İspir beans have very high nutritional value. On average, 100 grams of İspir beans contain 24 grams of protein, 330 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, and 20.2 grams of carbohydrates. They also contain phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, and E. İspir beans also offer numerous health benefits. Thanks to their high potassium content, regular consumption helps lower high blood pressure. They also significantly reduce levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. İspir beans also help regulate blood sugar levels in the body. Therefore, people with diabetes can safely consume them. Thanks to their high fiber content, they are among the foods that people suffering from colon and hemorrhoid issues should especially include in their diet.