THE “LENTIL FRANC”:
Philibert BESSON, a deputy (MP) of the Haute-Loire in the 1930s, invented a currency: “THE EUROPA”. Famous for his originality, BESSON had, in 1928, the idea of a United Europe to which he attributed a single currency. A nice anticipation of the present-day EURO. This currency was also called “The Lentil Franc”, because it was based on the price of GREEN PUY LENTILS!

THE GREEN PUY LENTIL IN ORBIT:
Astronauts including the Frenchman Jean-François Clervoy spent the Millennium New Year on board the space shuttle Discovery. To improve the ordinary fare, the menu was composed among other things of: foie gras of duck and boiled bacon with Green PUY Lentils… a fine apotheosis for the poor man’s caviar.

ESAU: “SELLING HIS BIRTHRIGHT FOR A DISH OF LENTILS”
Extract from Genesis (25.19 to 34)
“Rebecca, wife of Isaac, had two sons, twins. The first born was red-haired and hairy like the skin of an animal, and his name was ESAU. His brother, who came second from his mother’s womb, holding in his hand ESAU’s heel, was called JACOB. The boys grew. ESAU became a skilful hunter, roaming the countryside; JACOB was a quiet man, staying in the tents. One day, JACOB was preparing a soup ( a broth) when ESAU came back from roaming the fields, exhausted. ESAU said to JACOB: “Let me eat some of that soup – this is why it is called EDOM – for I am exhausted.” JACOB said: “Sell me first your birthright.” ESAU replied: “When I am dying, what use will my birthright be then ?” JACOB continued: “Swear to me first” ; he swore and sold his birthright to JACOB. Then JACOB gave him some bread and some lentil broth, he ate and drank, got up and left. That was all the importance that ESAU accorded to his birthright”.

TO BECOME RICH
“Cook the Green PUY Lentil on the first day of the year, brings wealth all year long” according to a Mediterranean tradition.

THE “LENTIL SOCIETY”:
Far from its native Velay, the Green PUY Lentil was a pretext for friendly meetings. On 7 June 1884 the first banquet of the Friendly Society of the Children of Le Velay took place in Paris: “La Lentille”. It took place in a great Paris restaurant: LAPEYROUSE. This association, composed only of people born in Le Velay, counted many personalities in its ranks: Charles DUPUY (president of the Council), Docteur CHANTEMESSE (disciple of Pasteur), Albert FOURNEL (Counsellor at the Court of Appeal of Paris), Docteur Léon BOUVET (one of the first radiologists)…