Get to know
Speckled Bayo
Overview
Tasting notes: Smoky • Nutty • Rich
Grown by: Chris Capaul, Sacramento Valley, California
Harvested: October 2023
Practices: Soil-boosting rotations, supports healthy watersheds, preserves heirloom seed
Why we chose it
One taste of these robust beans with their smoky, meaty flavor, and we knew we wanted to offer Speckled Bayo to our bean-loving community. “It’s as if red kidney and cranberry had a baby” is the best way to describe them. We love the naturally varying colors and adore them in soups, stews, and baked beans – perfect for this season-bridging time of year.
The sourcing backstory
The newest bean to join the PB lineup, Speckled Bayo (pronounced bay-o, like may-o, not to be confused with our Bayo beans!) is a rare bean that we stumbled upon while sourcing Baby Butter beans (which you’ll find in a future box!). Our farm partner, Chris Capaul, explained that his father grew them in the 1960s and 1970s and his family’s farm developed a reputation for their excellent flavor. Chris’s brother kept the seed alive in his garden, but it wasn’t until 2019 that Chris decided to continue his father’s legacy and grow them commercially. The exact origins are a bit of a mystery, but rumor has it that it’s an old favorite in pockets of Coastal California and Louisiana.
Get cookin'
Cook beans according to our step-by-step cooking guide, then plate the beans as they are, use them in a recipe, or go off-script and create something new.
Broth notes:
Full-bodied, meaty, hearty
Suggested produce pairings:
Onion, celery, hot chile peppers
Bonus tips:
- Cook beans with bacon fat for a rich, smoky flavor
- Add stemmed whole hot chiles to your pot for spicy depth
PB recipe picks:
- Member exclusive: Campanelle with Speckled Bayo, Bacon, Braised Chicken, Buttery Collards + Aged Cheddar
- Louisiana-style smoky beans and rice
- Pressure cooker rajma
- No-ketchup sticky baked beans
Head to the PB Blog for more recipes to celebrate Speckled Bayo!
Cooking resources
Bean cooking guide
Bean tasting card
Bean & wine pairing guide
