Black Russian Fava Bean

Vicia faba

Interested in a recipe that uses this variety? Check out this recipe from 1816! Black Favas with Turnips and Hot Peppers

Russian Black Fava Bean – Rare Heirloom Broad Bean

An ancient and nearly forgotten heirloom, the Russian Black Fava Bean traces its roots back to the gardens of Kievan Rus’ (9th–13th century), later cultivated in the Leningrad Oblast, and cherished so deeply in Russian culture that it inspired a proverb:
“Бобы не грибы: не посеяв, не взойдут” — “Beans are not mushrooms: they will not sprout without sowing.”

This exceptional Slow Food Ark of Taste variety is renowned for its hardiness, productivity, and cultural history. Plants grow to about 3–3.5 feet (110 cm), branching strongly and producing abundant pods. Each sturdy stem carries 6–16 pods, 7–8 cm in length, filled with 2–3 flat, oval seeds that ripen from rich purple to a deep, glossy black.

Russian Black Favas thrive in extreme conditions—frost hardy to the Arctic Circle, disease-resistant, and capable of enduring wet, windy summers when other varieties fail. These favas are also excellent nitrogen fixers, enriching the soil as they grow.

Versatility in the Kitchen

Fresh shelling stage (~65 days): tender and flavourful

Dried beans (~90 days): striking black seeds with purple highlights, perfect for soups, stews, and traditional dishes like ful medames

Traditionally eaten fried, boiled, stewed, or canned

Growing Notes

Best direct sown in early spring (late February–April)
Early sowings are less prone to black bean aphid damage
Plants may need support as they reach over 1 metre tall
Excellent dual-purpose crop for both eating and soil improvement

Rare Russian heirloom, almost lost to history
Medium-sized black seeds with purple highlights
Height: ~3–3.5 ft (110 cm)

Use: fresh or dry bean
Days to maturity: 65 (fresh) / 90 (dry)

These seeds are available directly from Garden Faerie Botanicals in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. The collection features heirloom and heritage seeds that are personally cultivated organically without the use of any chemicals. Emphasizing historical, rare, non-GMO seeds, this selection preserves biodiversity through open-pollination.