Did you know that what we call "French Beans" did not actually come from France? No indeed, they came from the other side of the world: Guatemala! Yet they are renowned as French? Well, there is a history, short but interesting, of how these little beans traveled the globe.

It began with the brave ventures to the New World, back at the dawn of the 16th century. When the Catholic Spanish explorer, Hernan Cortez, intermingled with the Mayans, he noticed the native beans that these Indians were growing and harvesting from their valleys. Later, when he returned to Europe, Cortez brought seeds of these New World treasures with him.

In 1528, he made a gift of these seeds from the Mayans to Pope Clement VII. The Holy Father was quick to plant them, and became very pleased with the results. Amazed at how well these little beans grew and tasted, the Pope was so delighted that he declared them as the official bean of Rome!

News of this fantastic ‘Roman’ bean from the New World quickly spread, as did their seeds. Before long, these popular seeds traveled beyond the borders of Italy - making their way to the kitchens in France. The excellent French cooks soon incorporated the beans into their famous stews, called cassoulets. So well were they accepted in France that, in time, the French claimed the tasty beans as their own. And throughout the centuries, this French title simply stuck.

Today, everyone throughout the world enjoys and benefits by these delicious beans. Let us see then - in their interesting and mobile history - the loving Providence of God. For we owe our gratitude first to God for making the beans and for giving them to the Guatemalans, who then shared them with Cortez, who later presented them to the Pope, who then distributed them to Europe, where they won renown chiefly in France - and have since spread throughout the world as: The French Bean.