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They've got fiber. They're cheap. They're … cool? Behind the 'renaissance' of beans

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They've got fiber. They're cheap. They're … cool? Behind the 'renaissance' of beans
They've got fiber. They're cheap. They're … cool? Behind the 'renaissance' of beans May 18, 20265:00 AM ET In this illustration, a giant kidney bean flexes its arms against a backdrop of cans of beans, where various types of beans are exploding out of the tops. Kaitlin Brito for NPR

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A hill of beans isn't so trivial anymore.

In fact, it sounds pretty good.

Interest is surging in the tiny, bulbous legumes sometimes met with a shrug, as more Americans increasingly seek out cheap, healthy and inventive food.

Bean-centric recipes are abundant on social media — yep, there are bean-fluencers on BeanTok. Consumers can now buy trendier bean-based products, and one heirloom-bean service is so popular that it has a waitlist of tens of thousands of people. (Some bean lovers have taken to referring to themselves as the "leguminati.") The children's show Bluey is even being used to market beans to kids.

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Originally reported by NPR