PRODUCT DESCRIPTION No single culture owns beans and rice. Its a natural pairing that likely developed independently in different parts of the world. Our Black Beans & Rice is rooted in the Caribbean, where the combination of savory black beans and fluffy rice is a daily staple. Zatarains Black Beans & Rice is flavorful but not spicy and goes great with a variety of meats, but is hearty enough to stand alone as a meatless entre. This comes with precooked beans and is ready in less than 30 minutes. ABOUT THE BRAND A label from the earlier days of Zatarain'sThe tradition for making Zatarain's amazing New Orleans-style products was started well before the turn of the century by a man named Emile A. Zatarain, Sr. In 1889, he obtained the company's first product trademark and started to market root beer. Shortly after, he began to produce mustards, pickled vegetables, and extracts. As the business grew, so did the demand for a broader range of products. Through their expertise in blending spices, the company established a reputation for making only the most authentic New Orleans-Style food. In 1963, the Zatarain family sold the business, which was then moved to Gretna, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. Today, Zatarain's is the nation's leading maker of New Orleans-style food products. Zatarain's prides itself on great taste, high quality, and a near fanatical dedication to New Orleans cuisine. Interestingly, Zatarain's is as much a tradition at backyard barbecues as it is at formal dinners. From its humble beginnings, the company has grown to make more than 200 food products from rice dinner mixes, pasta dinner mixes, breadings, seasonings, and spices to seafood boils, stuffing mixes, and other products based on authentic New Orleans-style foods and seafood preparation.