Edamame

Edamame is harvested at the peak of ripening, right before it reaches the "hardening" time. The word Edamame means "Beans on Branches," and it grows in clusters on bushy branches. To retain the freshness and its natural flavor, it is parboiled and quick-frozen.
In East Asia, the soybean has been used for over two thousand years as a major source of protein. Edamame is consumed as a snack, a vegetable dish, used in soups or processed into sweets. As a snack, the pods are lightly boiled in salted water, and then the seeds are squeezed directly from the pods into the mouth with the fingers.

Jackie Lowdon, of the British Dietetic Association, has stated "Soya beans such as edamame are good for you because they are high in fibre. Research has indicated that they may help guard against heart disease and cancer."

It is the magic bean that has virtually all the health benefits of eating meat, but none of the blood and gore. Edamame (or soya beans), which looks something like a cross between a broad bean and a pea, is being hailed as a new super-food. Soya beans have been used for generations in food manufacture and as a meat alternative for vegetarians. However, the humble bean has been given a make-over, dressed up with a new name and sold as a green vegetable in its own right. It is part of a trend by high street stores to jump on to a super-foods bandwaggon, that includes various exotic fruit and vegetables, worth tens of millions of pounds a year in sales. The bean, which originates in China and is popular in Japan, is said to be the only vegetable to contain all nine amino acids. As such, the green wonder is a complete protein source like meat or eggs. It is also high in fibre, vitamin C, folic acid and helps lower cholesterol, while some claim it has aphrodisiac qualities. The health credentials are said to have made the bean a favourite with Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow. The decision to use the Japanese name appears to be linked to the fact that soy beans have suffered something of an image problem in the last ten years with the introduction of genetic modification. A huge proportion of the world's crop are now genetically modified, a technology that has been rejected by British consumers and others. The soya beans sold in this country, both in fresh and frozen form, will come from non-GM sources. Retailers hope the edamame with its simple, fresh and healthy appeal can latch on to a trend for Japanese food and style that has already brought us sushi. Japanese restaurants in Britain have increased by 2,260 per cent in the last decade according to website yell.com, and the notion of popping out for a sushi snack for lunch rather than a burger or sandwich is now commonplace. Edamame has a slightly nutty flavour which appeals to those who like broad beans but prefer something with a stronger taste. Another attraction of the bean is its versatility - it can be eaten hot as an accompaniment to a main dish, cold in salad or on its own as a healthy snack, it has become a very trendy appetiser in Japanese restaurants. Increasingly many shoppers are becoming more health-conscious so the edamame bean has become very popular, as it's an easy snack or light starter."