The history of the soy plant goes back about 5000 years. In China, the valuable bean is considered one of the five sacred seeds (together with rice, wheat, barley and millet). Every year the emperor himself ritually sowed soybeans in a festive ceremony.

Popular soy products in the West include Tofu, bean sprouts or soy sauce. The tender Iglo soybeans are a new product on the market – the beans are harvested like peas, removed from the pods and immediately blanched. Carefully selected varieties with a surprisingly pleasant, mildly sweet and nutty flavour are used for this vegetable product.

Iglo soybeans are guaranteed to be GM-free and meet the high quality standards that Iglo demands from its suppliers. Apart from protein and carbohydrates, soybeans also contain fibre, iron and magnesium. They are also a valuable source of vitamins, as they are particularly rich in folic acid and vitamin B1. Unfortunately, Austrians do not consume sufficient amounts of folic acid though adequate concentrations of this vitamin are known to reduce the risk of coronary diseases. Soybeans are a good alternative to meat – a 150g serving of tender soybeans already provides three quarters of daily required folic acid for adults, parts of the recommended intake of calcium and approximately a quarter of the required amount of iron.

Furthermore, soybeans play a fundamental role in sports nutrition. Since protein is important for regeneration and muscle building, soybeans are an excellent cholesterol-free vegetable alternative that also contains numerous unsaturated fatty acids. The advantages for athletes are obvious – plenty of high-grade protein without undesired fat and cholesterol.  

However, soybeans are not only valuable because of their high content in nutrients. They are also versatile in use. Whether they are served as a vegetable side dish with fish or meat, as an ingredient in salads or vegetable rice dishes or in soups and stews – soybeans add a wonderfully mild and nutty flavour. Soybeans are often used in Asian recipes and combined with herbs, crisp vegetables or exotic spices they add welcome variety in home cooking. The tender soybeans can even be used for sweet dishes.