Soramame or broad beans are commonly found from spring to early summer. Available only for an extremely short period of time, the vegetable is said to keep fresh only for three days and is truly the delicacy of the season.

The name sora (sky) mame (bean) is derived from the image of the husk growing toward the sky. That figure of the plant ebulliently stretching toward the May sunshine seems to give its power to its consumers.

Fresh beans have shiny husks with downy surfaces. Simply boiled with salt, the beans are a perfect snack to go with Japanese sake.

Reference: Shun no Yasai no Eiyou-jiten (Encyclopedia of Vegetables in Season and Their Nutrition), Edited by Kiyoko Yoshida