Il Cuore Bianco della Tradizione Molisana

Habit: Annual, herbaceous, pubescent plant with an erect or climbing stem, cylindrical or hexagonal in cross-section. It is a native Molise ecotype closely linked to traditional biological rhythms.

Leaves: Alternate and ternate, composed of three ovate-acuminate leaflets with entire margins. Flowers: Hermaphroditic, with the typical papilionaceous structure of common beans, ranging in color from pure white to lilac.

Fruit: A pendulous, mucronate, and subtorulose legume (pod) containing the seeds, which must be shelled when fully ripe. The seed has the characteristic kidney shape, is entirely white, and is covered with an extremely thin tegument, making the legume highly digestible.

Crop cycle: Sowing takes place in spring, between late March and early April, using planting distances of 80 cm between rows and 40 cm between rows. Harvest takes place in late summer (late August – early September), when the pods are completely dry on the plant and the seeds are fully developed.

A local variety originating from the eponymous "Paolina" district in the municipality of Riccia, in the province of Campobasso (Molise). Bean cultivation in Riccia dates back to the late 18th century. During that period, severe famines and rapid population growth forced the local population to convert large areas of pastureland into agricultural land. Beans quickly became the primary and cheapest source of protein ("the meat of the poor") for the sustenance of farming families. The identity of the bean with the community is so strong that it has inspired local literature: in the 1920s, the famous Riccia dialect poet Michele Cima celebrated its importance in his poem "A certe chiante de fasciole e sciure" (To Certain Bean Plants and Flowers), a testament to its absolute culinary and social importance.

A local variety originating from the eponymous "Paolina" district in the municipality of Riccia, in the province of Campobasso (Molise). Bean cultivation in the Riccia area dates back to the late 18th century. During that historical period, severe famines and rapid population growth forced the local population to convert large areas of pastureland into agricultural land. Beans quickly became the primary and cheapest source of protein ("the poor man's meat") for the sustenance of farming families. The identity of the community is so strong that it has inspired local literature: in the 1920s, the famous Riccia dialect poet Michele Cima celebrated their importance in his poem "A certe chiante de fasciole e sciure" (A certain chiante de fasciole e sciure) (To certain bean plants and flowers), testifying to their absolute culinary and social importance.

In 2011, it was selected as one of the 20 top ingredients for the “Zuppa dell’Unità d’Italia” (Italian Unity Soup), a dish that won first place at the prestigious national festival “I Primi d’Italia” in Foligno.