Zursun

Zurich and Sun Valley gave Zursun its name when Lola Weyman started the Idaho heirloom bean company in 1985, and its range covers beans, lentils and grains.

Where to buy Zursun beans

Zursun is an Idaho heirloom bean company started by Lola Weyman in 1985, and its name joins Zurich and Sun Valley. The shop is at 263 Josephine Street in Cherry Creek, Denver, and products ship across the continental U.S. from theambrosianpantry.com. Visitors can ask staff questions in the shop. For more heirloom varieties, browse heirloom beans and Rancho Gordo.

How to cook them

Sort and rinse the beans first, since dried beans are a farm product. Soaking is optional for fresh beans, but it speeds cooking and helps older beans cook evenly, according to Utah State University Extension. The guide to cooking heirloom beans covers soaking, salting and the pot.

About Zursun

Based in
Idaho
Founded
1985
Known for
heirloom beans, lentils and grains

Lola Weyman founded Zursun in 1985 and worked with Bakker Brothers, a Magic Valley seed company, to find and develop bean and lentil varieties, some of them more than 200 years old. Jim Soran, whose family has roots in the Idaho bean industry, bought the company in 2004.

Sourcing is spread out. Magic Valley growers supply beans, lentils come from North Idaho, and other varieties come from other western states, Michigan and overseas.

Zursun's own site describes the business as offering heirloom beans and unusual legumes since 1985, and its range also takes in more than a dozen grains.

Zursun questions

What is an heirloom bean?

An heirloom is an old, open-pollinated plant variety that has been passed down from generation to generation. Open-pollinated means plants grown from its seed come true to type, as long as the plants are kept from crossing with related varieties. Zursun built its business on varieties like these: founder Lola Weyman worked with a Magic Valley seed company to find them, and some are more than 200 years old.

Do lentils need to be soaked before cooking?

No. Most dried beans and legumes need soaking first, for at least four hours or overnight in the refrigerator, but lentils, like black-eyed peas, are an exception and can go straight into the pot.

Read our Zursun guideSee all brands

Where it comes from See Zursun on our producer map (Idaho) More producers from United States