Variations can include cloves, ginger, pumpkin pie spice and lemon extract.

[2] According to her obituary, "she was a typical daughter of the old South, noted for her kindness and charity and was a life long member of the M.E.

[4] The pies are also specifically associated with the Nation of Islam movement and Elijah Muhammad, who encouraged their consumption instead of certain ingredients associated with soul food.

[1][5][6] Members of the community commonly sell bean pies as part of their fundraising efforts.

The bean pie was allegedly introduced by Elijah Muhammad, who was a restaurateur in the 1910s and 1920s prior to founding the Nation of Islam in 1930.