Northern beans, or great northern beans, are a medium-sized white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) with a mild, slightly nutty flavor and creamy texture once cooked. They're closely related to but distinct from navy beans, a smaller, rounder white bean sometimes called a "pea bean"; the two aren't the same variety and don't always substitute cleanly, since navy beans break down and soften faster. Common beans were domesticated in the Americas roughly 8,000 years ago, in independent events in Mesoamerica and the Andes. Today, northern beans are grown mainly in the northern United States and Canada, and are used in baked beans, soups, refried beans, and chilis, pairing well with garlic, onion, cumin, smoked or cured meats, and acidic ingredients like tomatoes and vinegar.