Lima beans take their name from the city in Peru where, hundreds of years ago, they were first cultivated. In turn, the city of Lima acquired its name when Spanish explorers mispronounced the name Rimak, which is what the Quechua, the native people of the region, originally called their city. Further back in history, Rimak derived its name from rima, a Quechua word meaning to speak, so named because the city was the site of a temple where Quechuan priests spoke to their gods. In a sense, therefore, lima bean literally means speaking bean.
This type of legume is flattened in shape and may be enjoyed in one of two forms: either when it is green and fresh, or once it has been dried, taking on an ivory-white hue. The papery pods that encase the beans are not intended for consumption and should be discarded.
The bean in question, originally cultivated in South America, features seeds that are short, flat, and possess a slightly kidney-shaped appearance. These seeds are utilized either fresh or dried as a vegetable.