Polish Eagle Bean: Symbol of Freedom

by | Jan 17, 2025

Beans are political. I discovered this several years ago when visiting my family village in the foothills of the Tatra mountains of southern Poland. One of my numerous cousins was visiting the family house and passed on a packet of beans to his brother with great reverence. He told us that these beans had special significance. Polish people grew them as a symbol of their fierce independent spirit and a silent protest against the “occupation” of the communist Russians. I brought a few of these beans back and have grown them ever since to remember and honour those, like my father, who resolutely opposed the occupiers. The bean has grown well for many years now and is worthy of raising in your garden whether you have Polish heritage or not. Perhaps you can imagine you are supporting those who today struggle to keep their freedom in eastern Europe.

‘Polish Eagle’ bean is a variety of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). It grows as a robust bush without well-developed tendrils. Instead, the branch extends into an elongated stem with many flowers. Like many bush beans, growth is determinate and stops after producing dry pods at which time leaves yellow, and plants die. Plants grow to 75-85 cm (30-34”) tall and spread somewhat, however remain off the ground. Bright white flowers arise mainly in the upper portion of the plant and mature into clearly visible pods.

Polish Eagle bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) flowers on extended stem above the leaves. Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, July 29, 2022. Photo Richard Hebda.
Polish Eagle bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) straight green pods with long point. Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, July 29, 2022. Photo Richard Hebda.

These firm pods are long, typically 13-14 cm (about 5-6”), straight or with a slight even curve at maturity. A sharp, raised and well-marked ridge lines the back. They are slightly flattened and about 1.2 cm width and 1.0 cm thick (about ½”). Pods widen slightly toward the tip. The firm point is 1.4-1.9 cm (about ¾”) long, usually straight or rarely slightly curved. Pale beige when dry, the pods twist open and release seeds easily.

Each pod typically has 4 or 5 white seeds with a red marking or markings around the attachment scar. These markings mostly appear in the shape of eagle with wings open. The seeds have a barrel-like shape and are moderately large for the species with a length 1.7-1.9 cm (1/2”), width 0.8-0.9 cm (1/4”), height 0.9-1.0 cm (1/3”). The cross section is circular. The white scar is neither especially depressed nor raised. The distinctive mark around it has captured the imagination of the Polish People! It may appear patchy and disorganized. But in good examples the open wings spreading from the eagle’s body are readily recognized. The scar occurs where the head of the eagle should be and above the scar extend additional red patches.

Pale beige pods of Polish Eagle bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) readily splitting along inside edge. Photo Richard Hebda.
Seeds of the Polish Eagle bean showing the barrel-like form and white scar surrounded by out-stretched eagle wings. Photo Christopher Hebda.

In 2023 I sowed 50 seeds presoaked for almost two days under plastic on April 27. Germination was rapid with first seeds up within a week and all seeds up by May 13 of which some plants had already produced the second set of leaves. Rapid germination and robust growth are typical for this bean. Plants developed strongly and rapidly displaying several white flowers by June 11. On June 25 bushes were loaded in blooms and the first tiny pods had formed. Many green pods covered the plant by July 8 and only a few flowers remained. By the end of July (30) half the leaves had begun to yellow, and the pods started to dry. I harvested 90% of the pods between August 2 and 10.

From sowing to harvest in 2023 required 97-105 days. The resulting yield was 0.24 kg/m  (0.16 lbs/ft). In the previous year (2022) a May 5th sowing resulted in a harvest on August 24 =110 days.  The yield was only 0.17 kg/m (0.11 lbs/ft). Last year (2024), I interplanted closely with potatoes on May 26 and harvested on September 2 an interval only 102 days. The yield was less than previous years, 0.15 kg/m (0.10 lbs/ft). as might be expected with interplanting.

Before moving on to the culinary values of this variety let’s consider its political and historical story. Most of the following account in abbreviated form comes from the website which despite some errors provides lots of specific information: https://www.slurrp.com/article/the-history-polands-iconic-eagle-bean-a-symbol-of-independence-1673090956063

The eagle is the symbol of Poland and the marks on the bean are interpreted to represent a white-tailed eagle. The eagle signifies freedom and identity for Poles appearing on the national coat of arms. The eagle bean with its distinctive mark represented unity and resistance against foreign rule especially during the partitions of Poland in the 18th century.

Poland’s National emblem, the eagle with wings spread wide.

According to legend eagle beans were grown secretly in eastern Poland during the Russian occupation in the 1800s. After the failed 1863 uprising these patriotic beans were planted secretly among potatoes. Russians punished those who grew them. Christmas Eve dishes containing eagle beans demonstrated patriotism during those dark times. Today in post-Soviet Poland, these political beans continue to be eaten at Christmas, on Independence Day (November 11), and as part of local harvest festivals.

The very old origins of the Polish Eagle or similar bush beans are confirmed by U.L Hedrick in his classic 1931 book Beans of New York, Vegetables of New York Volume 1 Part 2 (Education Dept. State of New York). The publication illustrates two potential different bean types China Red Eye-Soldier and two varieties of Yellow Eye beans from the US northeast (especially Maine and Vermont). Curiously Hedrick’s illustrations of Yellow Eye varieties have an unambiguous red eye! Both types are ancient with China Red Eye apparently tracing back to the early 1800s in the US. The American Yellow Eyes are also very ancient with remarkably similar kinds being illustrated in1860 in a German publication by G. Martens titled in translation “The Garden Beans”.

Two very old North American common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) varieties that resemble the
Polish Eagle bean illustrated in U.L Hedrick’s 1931 book Beans of New York, Vegetables of New York Volume 1.
Two New England Yellow Eye varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) likely from the
1800s marked not in yellow but with the red Polish Eagle in U.L Hedrick’s 1931 book Beans of New York, Vegetables of New York Volume 1.

The eagle bean has a remarkably wide range of uses, some of them different than is typical. Traditional recipes include soups and stews as well as being popular in salads, especially so because of the dried bean’s mild flavour. A most fascinating dish involves combining the beans in traditional Polish “kasha” with buckwheat. Kasha “gryczana” using roasted buckwheat seeds is my favourite Christmas Eve dish. Apparently too the beans can be ground into flour for baking and even making “pierogy“; widely popular eastern European dumplings.

The eagle bean is rich in nutrients and has a variety of health benefits. It is high in protein and fiber, which are rich sources of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. The bean is also a good source of antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and protect against disease.

You may consider the health benefits promoted on the web site already mentioned perhaps with some skepticism. Nevertheless, the complex carbohydrates and other constituents of this variety (and other beans I am sure) provide protein and fibre leading to reduced blood sugar and general inflammation.

The eagle bean has sustained the spirit, identity and health of the people of Poland for centuries. It grows strongly and quickly and provides adequate yields. Its uses are many and remarkably varied. Polish Eagle bean deserves to be more widely grown and used in Canada.