BAKED BEANS: Britain eats more than any other country — but who knows how, when and where the beans got canned? (2024)

FAQs

What country eats the most baked beans in the world? ›

Despite their American origin, baked beans are not as popular there. In fact, nowhere likes them as much as the UK – British people eat more baked beans than the rest of the world put together. Baked beans get their name because the raw haricot beans are baked in tomato sauce while inside the can.

They began selling baked beans throughout the UK in 1901, and baked beans became a standard part of the English full breakfast soon after. Heinz removed pork from the product during the Second World War rationing.

Baked beans played a crucial role in helping the British population cope with meat shortages by providing an alternative source of protein. The widespread availability of canning factories made it easier to produce and distribute baked beans as convenient and emergency-ready food.

American baked beans (also called Boston baked beans) are made with molasses and pork salt (or bacon), and they're slow-cooked in the oven. English-style baked beans (Heinz baked beans being the most famous) are more savory and made with a tomato sauce base.

It's official – Brits are the world's biggest baked bean eaters. In 2022, Tridge reported that Britain imported a staggering 100.9 metric tons of baked beans, valued at approximately $99.1 million.

Great Britain? 444 million units. That's over seven times larger than Australia. Some estimates put the UK at consuming more baked beans than the entire rest of the world put together.

Baked beans, with their tomato-based sauce, were introduced in the late 19th century. Canned baked beans became popular thanks to their convenience and affordability. American soldiers stationed in Britain during World War II further popularized baked beans in the English breakfast.

tif. Beans and toast is a breakfast tradition in the UK (it's both adored and loathed) that has stood the test of time. The story goes that in 1927 an executive at Heinz decided to create a national dish in order to sell more canned beans and an iconic dish was born.

According to YouGov, beans on toast is the eighth most popular dish in the UK (behind the English breakfast, which is the top preference, and chips, which comes second) with just under half of the population eating it at least once a week.

The gentry were famous for their breakfast feasts and in the old Anglo-Saxon tradition of hospitality, used to provide hearty full breakfasts for visitors passing through, friends, relatives and neighbors.

What do they eat for breakfast in England? ›

The UK's most famous breakfast is undoubtedly the fry-up, but what it involves depends a lot on where you have it, with the core quartet of eggs, bacon, sausages and black pudding served up alongside numerous regional additions: fried bread or bubble and squeak in England; square sausage, tattie scones and white ...

A common traditional English breakfast typically includes back bacon sausages (usually pork), eggs (fried, poached or scrambled), fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, bread, both or either fried bread and toast, black pudding, and baked beans.

There are several theories on where baked beans originated. But the concept of baked beans on toast seems to be an iconic British staple.

We call thembeans. We grow many types of beans in Britain and call then by names such a runner beans, green beans, broad beans etc. However, the most common way of eating beans in Britain is what are called baked beans.

Navy (or haricot) or great northern beans are cooked in tomato sauce for an authentic taste of a truly British classic.

The country that eats the most beans per capita is likely Brazil. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Brazil is the world's largest producer and consumer of beans. In fact, beans are a staple food in Brazilian cuisine and are eaten in various forms and dishes.

The mung is the most-consumed bean in the world.

About 39 percent of all cooked dry beans are consumed in the Southern States, with another 38 percent consumed in the Western States (figure A-4). California, Texas, and Florida are the three most populous States in these two regions.

Brazil is the world's largest producer and consumer of black beans.