VegetableBean
Kouri Edamame Soybean
Kouri is a brown-seeded soybean cultivar prized for delivering something unusual to American gardens: a noticeably sweeter, nuttier flavor than the green, black, or tan varieties most gardeners encounter. This open-pollinated, heirloom variety grows as a compact upright bush reaching 24 to 36 inches tall and produces harvestable pods in 80 to 89 days, thriving across hardiness zones 3 through 9. Though the seed itself is brown, the beans inside are dark when mature, making Kouri a striking addition to beds, containers, and raised gardens alike.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Prefers Neutral To Slightly Alkaline
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
8
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Brown-seeded soybeans remain genuinely uncommon in North America, which alone makes Kouri worth seeking out. But the real draw is flavor; these beans taste noticeably sweeter and nuttier than standard edamame varieties, with a richness that hints at their Japanese heritage. High yields from a compact, upright plant mean you get genuine abundance from modest garden space, and the non-GMO, open-pollinated genetics let you save seed year after year.
Common Uses
Kouri is grown primarily for fresh or dried edamame, harvested at the immature green stage for tender, sweet beans eaten whole from the pod, or allowed to fully mature for dried soybeans used in traditional preparations. The sweeter, nuttier profile makes these beans particularly appealing eaten fresh as a snack or in light preparations that highlight their natural flavor rather than mask it.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Kouri seeds outdoors once soil has warmed and all frost danger has passed. Plant in full sun where plants receive maximum light for strong growth and heavy pod set.
Harvesting
For fresh edamame, pick pods when they feel full and slightly plump but still bright green, typically 80 to 89 days from planting. Snap pods from the stem with a gentle sideways motion. To harvest mature dried beans for storage, allow pods to yellow and dry completely on the plant, then pull entire plants and hang them in a dry location until pods snap cleanly when bent. Shell the dried pods by hand or by rubbing them between your palms.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Glycine max
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Glycine
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Kouri carries the legacy of Japanese soybean breeding, where brown-seeded varieties have long been cultivated for their superior eating qualities. These varieties represent generations of selection in Japan specifically for sweeter, more complex flavors than the pale soybeans commonly grown elsewhere. As an open-pollinated heirloom, Kouri preserves that lineage and allows home gardeners to participate in seed saving traditions stretching back through Japanese agricultural communities.”