What Are Honey Beans (Oloyin Beans)? Taste, Uses & How to Cook Them
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What Are Honey Beans?
Honey beans, also known as Oloyin beans or Ewa Oloyin, are a popular variety of beans used in Nigerian and West African cooking. They're known for their naturally mild, slightly sweet flavour and soft, creamy texture when cooked.
The name gives a clue to what makes them special. In Yoruba, ewa means beans, while oloyin refers to honey, a reference to the naturally sweeter taste of the beans.
Honey beans are a versatile pantry staple and can be used in everything from simple beans and plantain to comforting bean porridge.
What Do Honey Beans Taste Like?
Despite the name, honey beans don't taste like they've had honey or sugar added to them. Instead, they have a subtle natural sweetness that distinguishes them from other varieties.
Once cooked until tender, they develop a soft and creamy texture that works particularly well in Nigerian bean dishes.
Their flavour also means you don't need to overcomplicate them. Onion, pepper, palm oil and your favourite seasonings can transform a pot of honey beans into a satisfying everyday meal.
Honey Beans vs Black-Eyed Beans: What's the Difference?
Although both are popular in West African cooking, honey beans and black-eyed beans aren't quite the same.
Honey beans are particularly prized for their slightly sweeter flavour and creamy texture. Black-eyed beans have their distinctive dark “eye” and a more neutral, earthy flavour.
Both are incredibly versatile, so which you choose often comes down to the dish you're making and the taste and texture you prefer.
What Can You Make With Honey Beans?
One of the best things about keeping honey beans in the cupboard is just how many meals you can make with them.
They can be cooked into Nigerian beans porridge, served alongside ripe plantain, paired with rice or yam, or cooked simply with onions and seasoning. They're also associated with dishes such as Ewa Agoyin, where very soft beans are served with a rich pepper sauce.
How to Cook Honey Beans
Cooking honey beans is straightforward, but give them enough time to become properly tender.
Start by sorting through the dried beans and removing any debris, then rinse them thoroughly under cold water.
You can soak the beans before cooking to help reduce the cooking time. When you're ready to cook, place them in a large saucepan with plenty of fresh water and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and allow them to simmer until tender, checking regularly and adding more water when necessary.
You'll know they're ready when the beans can easily be crushed with a fork.
From there, you can add them to your chosen recipe or season them to your taste.
Where Can You Buy Honey Beans in the UK?
You don't need to live near an African supermarket to keep traditional pantry staples at home.
At Aryana, you can shop African pantry essentials online and have them delivered directly to your door across the UK.
Our Honey Beans are available in practical sizes for everything from everyday meals to stocking up your pantry.
Whether you know them as Honey Beans, Oloyin Beans or Ewa Oloyin, they're a brilliant staple to have ready for your next pot of beans, beans and plantain or Nigerian beans porridge.