[mr Isaccs]

I popped down to the lotty today and whilst there I checked my broad beans, some appeared to be ready in size but not texture so I brought a pod home to try out.
   On cooking the five beans that came out of the pod I noticed the cooking liquer to be a rather strange colour
I've never had this before when cooking broad beans and am a little baffled. Can you imagine the colour of the water if I'd cooked a whole pan full 
   Can anyone advise on this please. They were only aquadulce, quite heavily fed with compost tea I might add.
   I ate them about 3 hours ago and haven't had any ill efects yet

[RichardA]

water oftens goes dark when bb boiled in it but I have not seen red before. perhaps it is the light behind it??
R

[mr Isaccs]

It's certainly not the light Richard, it looks like rose wine (and no I haven't mixed up the glasses of wine and bean juice)

[Goosegirl]

Could it be some additive in your water supply? Try asking the water board if they have been doing any work nearby? Presume the beans came out green not red.

[mr Isaccs]

Yes the beans came out green Goosegirl , I don't believe there was any waterworks going on and also the cauliflower I  just cooked for tea (from the shop I sadly say) came out of clean water which I was happy to use in my gravy

[Lardman]

Following with interest  - stuff I boil from the garden also produces a redish liquid. I noticed it with peas last year.

If I ever get anything to harvest I'll see if its the same this year.

[Dave Mack]

  do you use blood fish and bone ... it could be the blood coming out your plant 

[mr Isaccs]

  such wit Dave 
   No fbb on this grow, just my own concoction

[JayG]

How interesting!

I wouldn't be able to resist adding a little vinegar to a small sample of the water, then a small amount of bicarbonate of soda to another small sample to see if either causes a change of colour.

Could be an indicator dye which is showing up because the water was of unusually low or high in pH (did you add anything to the boiling water?)

[mr Isaccs]

Just a smidge of salt JayG, I'm going to sacrafice a few early pods again tomorow and see what happens, I've thrown the water away now.
   If I get the same colour liquid I will try your testing method and post results.  I'm also going to cook a few early peas aswell and see if it's the legume family.
   I'm starting to suspect it may be as Goosegirl suggests as it seems too strange to me to be anything other.
   Watch this space, I'll experiment tomorrow

[pumpkinpatch]

Well just read this post and im looking forward to what you find tomorrow.
One question from me is have you tasted the odd looking water ? 

[mr Isaccs]

One question from me is have you tasted the odd looking water ? 

No I didn't sample the water Pumpkinpatch, had I not had a glass of the real stuff in hand then I may have
   It didn't smell any stranger than boiled veg water though.

[mr Isaccs]

Well after swimming to the allotment and back this morning to pick my broad beans I have my findings.
   As you'll see the water is still a bit strange coloured and murky but nothing major to be alarmed at like yeaterday.
   I tried adding vinegar to some and bi-carb to some more and no colour change with either.
   I tried some peas and the water from them was fine.
Surely there must have been something in the water supply then as was suggested.
   I did an internet search on the subject and alot of answers that came up was that metals in the water ie nickel which is in itself a little worrying.
   Think I'm safe to say my beans are fine though, ate a bowlfull with a little butter on, lurvly

[JayG]

Glad you're still here Mr Isaccs!

Still a mystery then really; suggest you don't get too near any powerful magnets until you find out the truth or you may be stuck there some time! 

[mr Isaccs]