Kurakake-mame

Glycine max "Kurakake"

  • Kurakake-mame
  • Kurakake-mame
  • Flower name
    Kurakake-mame
  • Scientific name
    Glycine max "Kurakake"
  • Alias鞍掛豆, くらかけ豆, 鞍掛大豆, ひたし豆, 海苔豆, のり豆
  • Place of originJapan
  • Place of floweringField
  • Flowering seasonApril, May

What is Kurakake-mame

Kurakake-mame (Glycine max "Kurakake") is a type of green soybean in the soybean family, Fabaceae. The seed coat has two patterns, black and green, like a saddle on a horse. It is grown as a local vegetable in Nagano Prefecture. Sown from May to July, kurakake-mame is a late-season bean that produces purple flowers from May to August, ripens in late October, and is harvested in November. The seeds inside the pods are oblong in shape, and the seed coat is green with black saddle-shaped patches. They are edible and are eaten boiled in salted water or as soaked beans (nimame). They have a crunchy texture and a nori flavor. They are rich in dietary fiber and vitamin B6.

Origin of Japanese name
Kurakake-mame is a member of the Fabaceae family. It is also called "Kurakake-mame" because of the pattern of a black saddle(Japanese name:Kura) on a horse's back(kake), and "Nori-mame" because of its similarity in taste to laver(nori seaweed).

Common name: Kurakake-mame, scientific name: Glycine max "Kurakake", also known as Hitashi-mame (soaked bean), Nori‐mame (seaweed bean), Kurakake-daizu (soybean), Flowering type: Annual, Origin: Japan, China, Seed color: green; Sowing season: May to July; Flowering season: May to August; Flower color: purple; Ripening season: late October; Harvesting season: November; Bean shape: oblong to flat; Seed coat color: green with black spots; Navel color: black; Food use: boiled in salt or soaked in soy sauce ( Edible: boiled in salted water or soaked (boiled beans).


  • Order
    Fabales
  • Family
    Fabaceae
  • Genus
    Glycine
  • Species
    G. max 'Kurakake'
  • Type of flower
    Radial symmetrical flower
  • Array of flower
    Gross inflorescence
  • Petal shape
    4 petals
  • Leaf type
    lanceolate
  • Edge of the leaf
    Entire
  • Life typeannual plant
  • Flower colorsPurple
  • Colors of the leavesGreen
  • Fruit colorOther
  • Height60.0 ~ 70.0 cm
  • Diameter of flower1.0 ~ 1.5 cm

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