Broad bean, horse bean, field bean, tick bean, Windsor bean
Family Leguminosae: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae)
Vicia faba (= Vicia vulgaris), broad bean, horse bean, field bean, tick bean, Windsor bean (V. faba 1), is a robust annual herb, 30-150 cm tall, with a 4-ribbed stem and pinnate leaves with 2-6 leaflets and stipules at their base. The flowers are borne in axillary racemes, 2-3.5 cm long, fragrant, white with black blotches (V. faba 2). The stout pods are beaked, up to 30 cm long, containing 4-8 compressed seeds (V. faba 3).
Distribution
The broad bean is of Mediterranean origin and is one of the oldest cultivated plants. The ancient Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans knew it. The Greeks and Romans, however, considered the bean as harmful to their vision. It was the only edible bean in Europe in the Middle Ages and was introduced into the New World after 1492. Today the bean is grown mainly in the temperate regions of the world.
Use
Broad beans are eaten as a boiled vegetable. The slightly bitter taste is the result of the presence of tannin. Large quantities are canned and deep-frozen. Formerly they were dried to store. For consumption they were soaked or ground into meal.