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Andean Lupin
The Andean Lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) are annuals with lush green, palmate shaped leaves and tall, showy spikes of pea-like flowers in a deep ultramarine blue with a yellow centre.
A forgotten superfood
The Andean Lupin or Sweet Tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis) has been in cultivation for its nutritious edible seeds (Tarwi beans) in the Andes since pre-Hispanic times and is said to have been the superfood of the Incas.
World Vision - Bolivian families' food projects
With the help of UK supporters, World Vision is working closely with Bolivian families and communities to grow this particular species of lupin as the bean it produces - called Tarwi - has an high protein and essential fat content. In the carb-dominated diet of the high Andes, the Tarwi bean provides a vital source of nutrition - without which, children risk stunted growth and poor cognitive development that could negatively impact the rest of their lives.
Did you know?
Tarwi beans have a higher protein level than even Soya beans (at 50% protein content after treatment)
Grow to help South American children grow
We have teamed up with World Vision to offer the seeds of the Andean Lupin to get you growing too.
50p of each seed package will be donated to World Vision UK to support the Bolivian Food Project which helps to improve the nutrition of children living in the Andes.
Growing fun for kids
The seeds of the Andean Lupin have a 70-80% germination rate and little seedlings emerge just after 48 hours. This is an ideal plant to be grown with children. It is instantly gratifying and there are changes happening every day.
Beware!
Lupins are toxic! The raw seeds are not digestible and need to be treated before consumption. Read more
Andean Lupin seeds
Only £1.99 + p&p
A Chelsea Star is born
John Warland and Sim Flemons, of FlemonsWarlandDesign, first saw Lupinus mutabilis on a trip to the Bolivian Andes where they were visiting to learn more about the work of international children’s charity, World Vision. They discovered the Andean Lupin in a local field and fell in love with its striking blue flowers. The decision was made on the spot to include these stunning plants into the design of the World Vision garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012.
Get the Chelsea look
The Andean Lupin is part of our exclusive Chelsea Designer Collection which is inspired by the World Vision Chelsea garden. Buy this unique collection of plants to bring a piece of Chelsea into your own garden.
Click here to view our Chelsea Designer Collection page
Rare Andean Lupin seeds
Returning from Bolivia, FlemonsWarlandDesign asked plantify.co.uk to source the rare lupins for The World Vision Garden at RHS Chelsea this year. Despite best effort, the search was initially in vain since there are no official growers of the Andean Lupin in the UK. For weeks research and investigations continued until - upon receiving a tip off - we managed to narrow our search to the South American community in London. Here, to our surprise, we found the seeds being sold wholesale - but as Tarwi beans, for food - through an international distributor, who is importing them directly from Peru.
Growing Andean Lupin from seed
- Start germination process any time from early March for planting outside after April.
- Before planting, soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours.
- Place seeds between two layers of cotton wool. Space seeds approximately 1.5cm apart. Damp the cotton wool so that it is moist but not soaked. (If the cotton wool is soaked, the seeds may rot).
- Keep the cotton wool lightly moistened. Seeds will usually germinate within 1-2 weeks.
- The root will appear first. Once the shoot starts to appear, the seeds are ready to be transplanted. Because the seedlings will quickly develop long tap roots, we recommend transplanting into root trainers filled with a 50/50 mixture of ericaceous compost and horticultural grit to improve drainage.
- Keep in the light (but not in direct sunlight) at a temperature of around 21 deg C/70 deg F. Ensure the compost remains moist but not saturated.
- Before planting out, harden off plants for about two weeks by placing them outside during the day and bringing them indoors at night. Plant out after the last frosts, in a sunny position with a well-drained acidic soil.
- Seeds can also be sown directly into the soil once the temperature is reliably above 18 degrees C.
A superfood plays hard to get
Any lupin seed is toxic in its raw form, so is the Andean Lupin. To turn it into the highly nutritious superfood, humans over generations have worked out a process to remove its alkaloid content and prepare it for consumption. However, it is a very laborious process which involves soaking, boiling and extended rinsing up to 14 days. Read more
If you are curious and patient enough to subject your Andean Lupin harvest to the required treatment to make it edible, here is a recipe to enjoy your tarwi beans:
Ceviche tarwi bean salad:
Ingredients:
1 orange
1 pound of tarwi beans
1 tomato
1 onion
1 large lemon
2 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons tomato sauce
Chopped coriander
1 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Wash the tarwi beans and put them in a bowl while you chop the onions. Add the chopped tomato, oil, lemon, salt, tomato sauce, orange juice and mix well. Finish off by putting chopped coriander on top. Let it sit a while to concentrate the flavour.
Serve with a roasted corn and toasted bread. Enjoy!