It's thought that the first written record of soybeans is dated 2838 b. C. , and the Chinese have been cultivating them for thousands of years. So important are soybeans to the Chinese that they're considered one of the five sacred grains along with rice, wheat, barley and millet. Soybeans didn't find their way to Japan until the 6th century and to Europe until the 17th century. Their extraordinary nutritive value was not scientifically confirmed until the 20th century. Although the United States didn't really become interested in soybeans until the 1920s, it now supplies one-third of the world's total production. There are over 1,000 varieties of this nutritious legume, ranging in size from as small as a pea to as large as a cherry. Soybean pods, which are covered with a fine tawny to gray fuzz, range in color from tan to black. The beans themselves come in various combinations of red, yellow, green, brown and black. Their flavor is generally quite bland, which may explain why they weren't embraced by Western cultures until their nutritive value was discovered. Unlike other legumes, the soybean is low in carbohydrates and high in protein and desirable oil. Because they're inexpensive and nutrition-packed, soybeans are used to produce a wide variety of products including tofu (soybean curd), soybean oil, soy flour, soy milk, soy sauce, miso and tamari. Soybeans can be cooked (after being presoaked) like any other dried bean to be used in soups, stews, casseroles, etc. They can also be sprouted (see sprouts) and used in salads or as a cooked vegetable. Additionally, soybean by-products are used in making margarines, as emulsifiers in many processed foods and in nonfood items such as soaps and plastics. Fresh soybeans are not generally available except in Asian markets or specialty produce markets in late summer and early fall. Dried soybeans, beans for sprouting and a huge variety of soybean products are available in supermarkets and health-food stores. The soybean is also called soya bean, soy pea, soja and soi. See also beans.