Ben is interested in beans. And the beans that interest him are threatened with extinction – old varieties, from the Basque Country to the Baltic States and from Scandinavia to Sicily.

When he moved to Berlin, he missed what he knew from back home: beans with character. While a dedicated scene for traditional varieties (heirloom beans) has long existed in the U.S., here he found only generic, mass-produced beans on the shelves. So he set out on his own search – and founded Old World Beans.

The result: an astonishing culinary diversity right on our doorstep. Ever since beans arrived in Europe in the 16th century, farmers have cultivated thousands of regional varieties – beans and peas perfectly adapted to their respective climates and local cuisines. Due to intensive agriculture, many of these treasures have nearly disappeared today.

Ben works directly with small farms and agricultural cooperatives across Europe to preserve these very rarities and bring them to Berlin. For him, legumes aren’t just a proven recipe for a long, healthy life, but above all the best way to make your own cooking more exciting – because depending on the variety, they can taste creamy, nutty, earthy, or almost meaty.

If you'd like to try the heirloom varieties, you can find Ben every Saturday at his stand here at Markthalle Neun or 24/7 in the Old World Beans online shop. Here's a great tip: Ben has wonderful recipes for all the beans, which he shares with you at the market stand.