If you've never grown these before I can only urge you to give them a go. These Italian beans are considered something of a gourmet item and are often seen in supermarkets in their dried or tinned form but rarely seen fresh and in the pod. The beans are usually eaten out of the pod and have a delicious creamy bean texture. They can be used in stews, casseroles, soups and many other recipes including the classic Tuscan bean and pasta soup.