Sator: much more than a stinky bean

Love it or loathe it, there is no avoiding the sator bean (petai) this season. Dangling from trees and market stalls throughout the southern region, the distinctive green twisted cluster bean is in abundance at present.

The sator tree grows to a lofty 30 metres and bears long pods studded with up to 15 bright green edible seeds. Pods are harvested from trees and sold in bunches at local markets and street stalls; seeds are also extracted and sold by weight.

While the wayward curly pods have an interesting appearance, there is so much more to this bean; the almond-shaped seed is a leguminous powerhouse of nutrition.

Packed with protein, potassium, iron and fibre, the beans are widely believed to offer a number of health benefits and effectively conquer a range of ailments including high blood pressure, PMS and constipation.

Unfortunately, there are some less appealing side effects. Similar to other beans, their complex carbohydrate content can cause strong-smelling flatulence. And similar to asparagus, certain amino acids found in sator add a green tinge to urine, as well as intensifying the smell.

The bean’s odour is very pervasive, and can linger in the mouth and excretory system of the body for two to three days, which explains how it earned its nickname, ‘stink bean’.

Despite its off-putting qualities, sator is a highly regarded member of the pea family (leguminosae) in southern Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and north east India. The shelled beans are also pickled in brine and exported to the West.

First and foremost, the beans are rich in complex carbohydrates, and combined with their high fibre content, they provide an instant and substantial energy boost. Their high fibre content not only helps avoid constipation, but is also proven to benefit diabetics.

Eating sator can help those suffering from obesity to cut out comfort eating. Sator’s high complex carbohydrate content gives a feeling of fullness and tends to satisfy the comfort eater’s cravings for starch, so they are less likely to gorge on the wrong foods between meals.

Sator beans are bursting with potassium, plus they are very low in salt, making them hugely effective at reducing high blood pressure. So much so, the petai industry has been authorized to make official claims about the bean’s ability to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and strokes by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Potassium is also linked to improving memory and concentration, so sator is could be termed as a ‘brain food’. Encouraging children to eat more sator may lead to increased academic performance.

Sator contains vitamin B6. Many women take a Vitamin B6 supplement to alleviate premenstrual symptoms, as the vitamin plays an active role in synthesizing the brain chemicals which control mood and behaviour. By including sator in diet there is no longer any need to take a pill as the bean is a rich resource.

Sator is rich in a variety of amino acids including tryptophan. Nicknamed the ‘good mood amino acid’, tryptophan has the ability to increase levels of serotonin in the brain and consequently induce feelings and happiness and elation. Combined with the feel-good factor high carbohydrate content, the bean has mood enhancing qualities and can help lift the mood of those suffering depression.

According to a recent survey completed by MIND, many people suffering from depression felt considerably better after eating petai beans. Eating sator may help sufferers of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Petai bean’s high sugar content makes it a good snack for keeping morning sickness at bay. It is also high in iron, so people suffering from anaemia should include petai in their diet to stimulate the production of haemoglobin.

Sator’s ability to neutralize over-acidity in the stomach means it is an effective antacid and can ease heartburn and help ulcers.

In Thai culture, some foods are believed as ‘cooling’ and able to lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. Pregnant women in Thailand eat large quantities of sator beans in hope that their baby is born with a cool temperament.

The inside of the petai bean can also be used to treat mosquito bites. Many people find rubbing their finger inside the skin of the bean and applying to the bite reduces swelling and irritation.

Sator is a natural remedy for many ailments. Compared to an apple, a serving of sator has four times the amount of protein, twice the carbohydrate and five times the vitamin A and iron.

In Thailand sator beans are usually stir-fried in a curry with shrimp or eaten raw with nam prik (shrimp paste).

The mildly bitter taste and lingering smell may be off-putting initially, but with so much to offer in terms of health and nutrition it is definitely a taste worth acquiring.