Concord Pole

Concord Pole / Tora-mame

(Japanese Name: 虎豆, Romaji: Tora-mame, English: Tiger Bean)

(Historically Known As: Concord Pole, Big Sioux Pole, Hemisphere Pole, October Pole, Tall Sioux Pole)

(Pole) A Hokkaido heirloom, first introduced to Japan from the United States in the Meiji era’s Hokkaido development period. 1, 2 This variety’s main production regions currently in Hokkaido are Iburi and Kitami. 1, 2

In reference to Meiji era (1868-1912) seed imports, a document by the Hokkaido Prefectural Kamikawa Agricultural Experiment Station states,

“一 方 , 小麦 , ビー ト , 馬 鈴 著 , 隠元 豆 , タマ
ネギ , キャ ベツ な ど 新 品目 , 新品 種 を 積極 的 に
臣 米 か ら 藻 入 し , 三宮 園 , 南 か ら 函 館 近 郊 の 七
飯 官 園 , 札幌 官 國 , 根室 官 図 におい て, 意欲 的
に 示 培 試験 等 を 行い まし た 。 多く の 新作 物 , 新
品種 が ここ を 経て , 日 本 に 入っ て きた と も 言え
ます 。 例えば, 戦後 , 食 の 洋風 化 に 伴い 急 成 長
し た レタ ス や プロ ッ コ リー, カリ フラ ワー な ど
ゃ も, イチ ゴ や セロ リー, 馬 鈴 乾 や 玉 翌 衝 な ど と
共に , この 時 代 に 既に 試作 さき れ て いた の で す 。” (‘豆 と 生活, 豆 と 日 本 人 の 食 文 化, その 2 北海 道 開拓 と 豆’, 相 馬 暁, 北海 道 立 上 川 農 泉 試 験 場)

“[…] new crops and varieties such as wheat, beets, potatoes, kidney beans, onions, and cabbage were actively introduced [in the Meiji era] from Europe and the United States […]” (‘Beans and Life, Beans and Japanese Food Culture, Part 2: Hokkaido development and beans’, Akatsuki Soma, Hokkaido Prefectural Kamikawa Agricultural Experiment Station)

Tora-mame originated from Concord, Massachusetts in the United States, and was originally known as the ‘Concord Pole’. Under this name it was introduced to the American market in 1865 (Pg 116, American Varieties of Garden Beans, William Woodbridge Tracy, 1907).

According to a 1937 publication by the University of Massachusetts, it was originally, “[…] found in a garden in Concord about 1860. Spreading gradually in use throughout that section, it became known as the Concord Pole bean and seed is still obtainable today,” (Commercial Vegetable Grower Issues 1-29, University of Massachusetts, 1937) The 1883 Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Vol 4, briefs that this variety was likely derived from a cross between the White Cranberry and Horticulture.

In Japan, Tora-mame holds a reputation as an excellent boiled bean, for which it is alternatively called the ‘king of boiled beans’. Tora-mame are described as having, “[…] a strong presence and are satisfying to eat. The taste is sweet and rich, but the aftertaste is refreshing.” (Murakami Farm, 2024) This variety was given the Japanese name ‘Tora’ (Tiger) due to the seed coat’s white and tan colouring and maroon stripes, which are similar to the fur pattern of a tiger. 2

Days to Maturity:

History

虎豆の原名はコンコード・ポール
　蔓性（つるせい）の品種です。虎豆は『高級菜豆』と呼ばれ大福豆などと共に人気の豆です。虎豆の名前の由来は、白地を基本とした豆のへその周辺に、濃黄褐色と淡黄褐色の紋様がありその模様の入り具合が『虎』に似ていることから『虎豆』と呼ばれるようになったと言われています。

　日本では明治時代にアメリカのマサチューセッツ州コンコードから導入され栽培が始まり、北海道の胆振・北見地方が主な産地となっています。
『虎豆』の特徴は豆が柔らかく煮えやすいことで、豆に粘りがあり煮豆には最適です。しかし、皮が破けやすく上手に形を残して煮るのは大変難しく、煮方・豆の味ともに『煮豆の王様』と呼ばれるのにふさわしい豆です。

(Suzuwa, 2024 1)

“The original name of tiger beans is Concord Pole. It is a pole variety. […] The origin of the name tiger bean comes from the fact that there are dark yellowish brown and pale yellowish brown patterns around the navel of the white bean, and the pattern resembles that of a “tiger”. […]

It was introduced and cultivated in Japan in the Meiji era from Concord, Massachusetts, USA, and its main production area is the Iburi and Kitami regions of Hokkaido.” (Suzuwa, 2024 1)


Pg 96, Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Vol 4, New York Legislature Assembly, 1883
Pg 97, Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Vol 4, New York Legislature Assembly, 1883

Pg 116, American Varieties of Garden Beans, William Woodbridge Tracy, 1907
Commercial Vegetable Grower Issues 1-29, University of Massachusetts, 1937

“The Concord is mentioned by Burr (1866) as recently introduced. Gregory says its characteristics were made permanent after several years of experimenting, and is doubtless a cross between the White Cranberry and Horticulture, originating in Concord, Mass.” (Pg 97, Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, vol 4, by New York Legislature Assembly, 1883)

“The original plant was found in a garden in Concord about 1860. Spreading gradually in use throughout that section, it became known as the Concord Pole bean and seed is still obtainable today,” (Commercial Vegetable Grower Issues 1-29, University of Massachusetts, 1937)

Pg 71, The vegetables of New York Part II: Beans, Hedrick, U.P., 1937

According to the 1937 publication ‘The vegetables of New York’ by Hedrick, U.P.,

“The first mention of Concord was during the period between 1860 and 1865. The original plant was found in a garden in Concord, Mass., and by some is said to have been a natural hybrid between Lazy Wife and Early Horticultural, others giving the parents as London Horticultural and White Cranberry. It is very similar to Mottled Cranberry, but seed color is rather more buff drab or light brown than crimson.” (Pg 71, The vegetables of New York Part II: Beans, U.P. Hendrick, 1937)

Plate 1, 12 (Concord Pole); 1907, Bulletin Issues 107-119 By United States, Bureau of Plant Industry, 1907Bulletin Issues 107-119 By United States, Bureau of Plant Industry, 1907

[Back to Index]