Wingbeans as a Coffee Substitute

I'm sure many people in south-east Asia are very familiar with wingbeans, also known as dragon beans, four-angled beans, cigarillas and a variety of other names. They are an easy-to-grow legume with all parts of the plant being edible. Most commonly they are eaten when the young seed-pods are still light green and soft.

Where I live in Thailand they are typically used either as part of a selection of steamed vegetables eaten with chili paste, or chopped up to make "yam tua pu", one of the fantastic Thai spicy salads. Here they are mixed up with coconut milk, roasted chili paste, toasted coconut, tamarind, palm sugar, peanuts, shallots, chili, garlic and lime juice, and often served with shrimps and slices of hard-boiled egg. A favourite of mine.

We grow them in our garden and recently I also found out that the seeds can be used like soya beans. I tried making "milk" with them but even after a few long soaks and long cooking time the beany taste remained and it wasn't very successful. Then I heard that the dry beans can be roasted and ground to make a drink vaguely similar to coffee, so I decided to try it.

We often end up with a glut of the seed-pods anyway so rather than trying to eat them all I let some grow old when they become dry and brown. I usually do this with a few anyway to collect some seeds for replanting.

After a few weeks I picked and shelled them to get the seeds out then roasted them on a tray in the oven until they turned nice rich brown colours. Before they get to this stage they do a little spinning dance as they heat up and split in the oven which is quite fun to watch if your oven allows.

After letting them cool I then use my coffee grinder to powder them and brew a drink just like I would with ground coffee - in my case this means in a linen sock.

I drink it straight like this without adding anything else and it is lovely.

However, if you are expecting coffee you will be disappointed. It has a good taste but lacks the strong aroma of coffee so it's best to just think of it as a different drink. Personally, I drink coffee in the morning and then have a cup of this wingbean alternative in the evening.

I would love to know if anybody else is already doing this with their wingbeans and what your experience is.

The drink could also perhaps do with a better name. "Wingbean coffee" doesn't sound particularly appealing. Perhaps "wingoffee"? Other suggestions are welcome.

Of all the coffee-like drinks I have tried, wingoffee is definitely the best! And for anyone growing the plant it is very easy to make at home with minimal processing needed.