PEAS

Geek talk: Pisum sativum But we talk: maṭara(Hindi), chícharos(Spanish), paṭṭāṇi(Tamil) Description: Peas is a “controversial” vegetable. I call it “controversial” because everything from his origin to his name is been claimed by different civilization. Some says that peas originated in Northeast India, China while peas were also found in excavations in Switzerland dating to the Bronze Age and in an Egyptian tomb at Thebes so no one clearly knows. Also the word 'peas' is derived from Sanskrit while others says that it’s derived from the Latin 'pisum.' The Anglo-Saxon word for peas was 'pise' or 'pease'.[1] But one thing is sure that Peas was one of the most consumed vegetable in English and Scottish homes during the Middle Ages. During the time tt found its significance mentioned in a nursery rhyme 'pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold.'[2] In terms of consumption and production on an average, everyone in Britain eats nearly 9,000 peas per year and there are 35,000 hectares of peas grown in the UK each year, equivalent to about 70,000 football pitches. This produces about 160,000 tonnes of frozen peas - that's 2 billion 80 gram portions. [3] Peas can be divided into three general categories: whole pea pods eaten young and fresh, shelled peas eaten fresh and shelled peas that are dried. [4] . Kitchen Pharmacy: ; Green peas are one of the most nutritious leguminous vegetables, rich in health benefiting phyto-nutrients, minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Fresh green peas are very good in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), phytosterols especially ß-sitosterol, vitamin k & vitamin A.

Origin: Mediterranean and Middle East

  References:

1. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/vegetabletravelers/peas.html
2. http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/peas/all-about-peas-article10250.html
3. http://www.peas.org/facts/
4. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/tip/all-about-peas.html
5. http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/green-peas.html