The black velvet bean is a vigorously growing Creeper. It fixes nitrogen and is thus a good ground cover, it can be used in a no-tillage method for rice cultivation, it can be used as cow fodder, the beans when they are immature can be used in curry and they taste a bit like boiled peanuts. When they are mature we roast them and grind them into powder, boil them and add some coconut milk, and jaggery/sugar and this drink is a good coffee substitute. But be careful this plant contains high amounts of L-dopa, a precursor to dopamine. It’s a mood enhancer and an aphrodisiac. We have been told one week on, one week off is an ok dose but check with ayurvedic doctor if we have a doubt. One thing is for sure, food is medicine!