Black-eyed pea

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For other uses, see Black-eyed pea (disambiguation).
Black-eyed pea

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Vigna
Species: V. unguiculata
Subspecies: V. u. unguiculata
Trinomial name
Vigna unguiculata unguiculata

The black-eyed pea, also called black-eyed bean, blackeye, 眉豆 (Cant. mei4 dao6), lobiya (ar: لوبيا), rongi, feijão-frade, Alasandee (Kannada name) or chawli/chawle, is a subspecies of the cowpea, grown for its medium-sized edible bean, which mutates easily giving rise to a number of varieties, the common commercial one called the California Blackeye being pale-colored with a prominent black spot. The currently accepted botanical name is Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata, although previously it was classified in the genus Phaseolus. Vigna unguiculata subsp. dekindtiana is the wild relative and Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis is the related asparagus bean. Other beans of somewhat similar appearance, such as the "Frijol ojo de cabra" ("Goat's eye bean") of Northern Mexico are sometimes incorrectly called "black eyed peas" and vice versa.

Black-eyed pea beans
Black-eyed pea beans

Contents

[edit] History

Originally native to Africa, but widely grown in many countries in Asia, the black-eyed pea was introduced into the West Indies and from there to the Southern United States, where it is still a widely used ingredient in soul food and Southern U.S. cuisine. The planting of crops of black-eyed peas was promoted by George Washington Carver both because, as a legume, it adds nitrogen to the soil and for its nutritional value. Black-eyed peas are an excellent source of calcium (211mg in a 1 cup serving), folate (209mcg), and vitamin A (1,305 IU) among other nutrients.

[edit] Culture

The heat-loving crop is seeded after the danger of frost is past and the soil is warm. Sandy loam is preferred, but at least the soil should be well-drained, as the plants cannot stand excessive water. They are also known as a drought-tolerant crop.

The crop is relatively free of pests and disease. Root-knot nematodes can be a problem, especially if crops are not rotated. As a nitrogen fixing legume, fertilization can exclude nitrogen.

The blossoms are heavy nectar producers and significant areas can be a source of honey. Because the bloom attracts a variety of pollinators, care must be taken in the application of insecticides to avoid label violations.

It is also known as Barbati in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra in India.

[edit] Traditional use

Several cups of chè đậu trắng, a Vietnamese dessert made with black-eyed peas
Several cups of chè đậu trắng, a Vietnamese dessert made with black-eyed peas

Black-eyed peas are traditionally eaten on New Year's Day in the American South and in some other parts of the U.S. In some areas, they are served as a starchy side dish, cooked with or without fatback and/or diced onion, and often served with a hot chili sauce or a pepper-flavored vinegar. In other areas, they are served in a traditional dish called "Hoppin' John" made of black-eyed peas cooked with rice, sometimes pork (such as hog jowls, ham hock, or fatback), and seasonings.

The traditional meal also features collard or mustard greens or cabbage. This is supposed to bring good luck and financial enrichment. The peas stand for good luck, the greens symbolize paper money. Cornbread also often accompanies this meal.

The "good luck" traditions of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day are recorded in the Babylonian Talmud (compiled ~500 CE), Horayot 12A: "Abaye [d. 339 CE] said, now that you have established that good-luck symbols avail, you should make it a habit to see Qara (bottle gourd), Rubiya (black-eyed peas, Arabic Lubiya), Kartei (leeks), Silka (either beets or spinach), and Tamrei (dates) on your table on the New Year." A parallel text in Kritot 5B states that one should eat these symbols of good luck. The accepted custom (Shulhan Aruh Orah Hayim 583:1, 16th century, the standard code of Jewish law and practice) is to eat the symbols. This custom is followed by Sefaradi and Israeli Jews to this day. The first Sefaradi Jews arrived in Georgia in the 1730s and have lived there continuously since. The Jewish practice was apparently adopted by non-Jews around the time of the Civil War.

These "good luck" traditions date back to the U.S. Civil War. Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General William Tecumseh Sherman, would typically strip the countryside of all stored food, crops, and livestock and destroy whatever they couldn't carry away. At that time, Northerners considered "field peas" and corn suitable only for animal fodder, and as a result didn't steal or destroy these humble foods. Many Southerners survived as a result of this mistake.[1]

Rice and peas is a popular dish in Jamaica and other Caribbean Islands.

Texas Caviar is a traditional New Year's Day dish made from black eyed peas marinated in Italian salad dressing and chopped garlic and served cold.

In Portugal black-eyed pea is used to serve boiled cod and potatoes and also with tuna and in salads

In Vietnam, black-eyed peas are used in a sweet dessert called chè đậu trắng (black-eyed peas and sticky rice with coconut milk).

In Cyprus, they are eaten with sliced vegetables, oil, salt and lemon.

[edit] Cultural references

  • In the song "Cornbread" by the Freestyle Fellowship, rapper Aceyalone throws the phrase "black eyed peas with a lot of Tabasco" into a list of things he likes.
  • In the song "Goodbye Earl" by The Dixie Chicks, black-eyed peas are mentioned as a food which is poisoned and fed (unbeknownst to him) to an abusive husband by his wife and her best friend to retaliate for the abuse.
  • The vegetables are also mentioned in Bobbie Gentry's 1967 ballad "Ode to Billie Joe": Papa said to Mama as he passed around the black-eyed peas, "Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense; pass the biscuits please."
  • The Black Eyed Peas are a three-time Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop group from Los Angeles.
  • In the song Soulville (sung by many soul and motown artists, including Aretha Franklin) the outro lyrics include the line "I'm talking 'bout the black-eyed peas, down in soulville."

[edit] Gallery

Black-eyed peas

Close-up of the black eye

[edit] References

  1. ^ Melissa Johnson. Black-eyed pea tradition dates back to 1800s. The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. Retrieved on 2007-13-07.