Dainagon Beans are a premium variety of adzuki beans.
They are larger than other adzuki beans: Dainagon will weigh more than 16 g per 100 beans, and are longer than 4.8 mm. They are on the darker shade of red.
Dainagon Beans are used in making Wagashi, particularly “monaka.”
Sub-varieties of Dainagon Beans are named after old Japanese noble families: Tanba-dainagon (grown in Kyoto and Hyogo), Noto-dainagon (grown in Isikawa) and Tokaci-dainagon (grown in Hokkaido.)
Language Notes
Dainagon means “Grand Counsellor” in Japanese. It was the middle rank of officials at court, between Minister and Shogun.