What can I say? Beanz means Heinz.

Did you know that: 2.3 million people A DAY, eat Heinz Bake Beans? HOW About that?

Why are the British so enamored with baked beans?

Rule #1 Beans mean Heinz.

Rule #2 They are a tea time favourite and do well with toast

Rule #3 I have learned after over 20 years that there is NO substitute available in US - nope, nada, nothing, it just isn't going to happen. Which brings me to the most important rule: The British golden Rule.

Rule #4 - if you are in America and are know how important that the true taste is for a British person, have your British friends bring you a few tins as their rent to stay with you, visit you... It's the only way! It's the British Way...

More on these amazingly great beans.....

The history of the humble - and yummy - baked bean

Baked beans are believed to be based on a Native American dish in which beans were cooked with fat and maple syrup. European settlers are thought to have adapted the recipe using pork and molasses. There is another theory that the recipe can be traced to the classic French bean stew cassoulet.

Henry Heinz launched his baked beans in the U.S. in 1895 and brought them to the UK nine years later. Beans became a staple of the British diet. Originally the product contained a small piece of pork. But Second World War rationing put paid to that.

The Beanz Meanz Heinz slogan dates from the mid-1960s. In 2006, Heinz headed off a threat by Branston to hijack it by reintroducing it to its marketing.

In the mid-1990s, a price war broke out, with some supermarkets selling their own brand beans for as little as 3p a can. One enterprising independent grocer even gave consumers 5p every time they "bought" a can.

Heinz Beanz were launched in 1901 as "Heinz Baked Beans" and were produced in the United States until 1928. In 1901, Heinz Baked Beans were first sold at the Fortnum & Mason department store in London.^[1] After opening its first overseas office in London in 1896, the company opened its first UK factory in Peckham, south London, in 1905. This was followed by a second factory at Harlesden, north-west London in 1919. Production was started at a former munitions factory at Standish near Wigan in 1946. A new factory opened in Kitt Green, Wigan in 1958.^[2]

Between 1941 and 1948, The Ministry of Food classified Heinz Baked Beans as an "essential food" as part of its wartime rationing system.

Its factory in Kitt Green is Europe's largest food factory and turns out more than 1 billion cans every year.

For several years they had been available in the US in "British Goods" specialty stores only. Presently, they are available at many US supermarkets and specialty stores. However, they are now imported with a label similar to the older British label but with US spelling and US Nutrition Facts.

Advertising slogan

In 1967, Heinz launched an advertising campaign with the slogan "Beanz Meanz Heinz". The phrase was created by advertising executive Maurice Drake and went on to become one of the best-known advertising slogans in the United Kingdom. Drake later said the slogan was "written over two pints of beer in The Victoria pub in Mornington Crescent". In 1998, Heinz Baked Beans was voted one of 12 brands that citizens of the United Kingdom think best represents the final 10 years of the millennium.

In 2008, "Heinz Baked Beans" were renamed "Heinz Beanz", as the original title was "a bit of a mouthful to pronounce", according to the company.

BPA allegations

In 2001, the Food Standards Agency of the Government of the United Kingdom found Heinz canned baked beans was one of a number of well-known canned products to be contaminated with the hormone disruptor bisphenol A (BPA). This chemical forms part of the membrane that lines the cans. The Heinz company put out a statement – "Although UK and European food authorities have stated that minute levels of BPA in can coatings are safe, Heinz remains committed to moving to alternatives."

In Popular Culture

In the mod version of survival game DayZ, Heinz Baked Beans are a common food source, and as such became an injoke amongst players of the mod.

Production method

Heinz Baked Beans are produced by sealing raw beans and sauce in the cans, which are then placed in large pressure cookers. This gives the sauce its thick consistency and ensures a long shelf life for the product.

Now for something completely different.. Another amazing British necessity... FISH AND CHIPS!

What can I say? This site sums it up best: Fish And Chips absolutely delish!

Let's not forget! St. David's Day. It is fast approaching. Here is a link to all things food for St. David's Day, March 1. St. David's Day Recipes.

From Cowboy Boots to Wellies

Recipes, Food and Drinks and the such for the Cowboy in us all with the British that we adore!