Chick pea, gram
Family Leguminosae: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae)
Cicer arietinum, the chick pea or gram (C. arietinum 1), is a much branched annual herb, 25-50 cm tall, covered with glandular hairs; with compound leaves divided into very small leaflets and small white, pink or blue usually solitary flowers. The pods are swollen (C. arietinum 2), 2-3- cm long, with 1 or 2 seeds. The seeds are angular with a pointed beak (C. arietinum 3), variable in colour.
Distribution
The chick pea most likely is of western Asian origin and spread at a very early date to India and Europe. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Hebrews knew the crop.
Use
The chick pea or gram is the most important pulse in India. In the Indian pulse dish ‘ dhal’ the peas are split and separated from their husks. Green pods and young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. Powdered seeds form the basis of Indian confectionery.
In North Africa the peas are made into flour by grinding the seeds, which is the major part of the Arabic dish ‘couscous’ .
In the Mediterranean region this flour, together with garlic, paprika, lemon and oil, is made into a paste known as ‘houmous’ .
Biggest producers of chick peas are India (C. arietinum 4), Pakistan and Turkey.