Jacob's Cattle Beans

Jacob’s Cattle are a New England heirloom, and maybe the most well known one, dating back long before the colonial era. 

White with beautiful magenta spots, they are kidney-shaped but more plump. They are a classic choice for New England baked beans from the days before New England varieties were abandoned for uniform fields of Navy beans grown for the canning industry.

There are conflicting stories regarding the origin of this bean, but many attribute its cultivation to the Passamaquoddy tribe. One story claims they were a gift from Maine's Passamaquoddy Indians to the family of Joseph Clark when he was born in Lubec, Maine.