The plant is a high yielding bush-type with dark green leaves that grows 14 inches (36 cm) tall, and flowers with pink or pale purple blossoms; 60 to 100 days from seed.
The pods are 4 1/2 inches (11 cm) long. They are off-white with a touch of pale green, that get streaks of red as they mature.
Tongues of Fire Beans are ready to be picked as “green” beans at around 60 days, shelling beans around 75 days, and dried beans around 90 to 100 days.
The beans inside, when fully mature for use as dried beans are long and oval, 1/2 inch (1 cm) long by 1/3 inch (75 mm) wide. Tongues of Fire Beans are beige to darker beige with dark red spots on them.
Cooking Tips
Simmer soaked dried Tongues of Fire Beans for 2 1/2 hours; pressure-cook soaked dried beans for 20 to 25 minutes.
Equivalents
1 cup of beans, dry = 2 1/2 to 3 cups, cooked.
Storage Hints
As a green bean, Tongues of Fire Beans can and freeze well.
History Notes
Tongues of Fire Beans originated in Tierra del Fuego (South America) and eventually made its way to Italy.