The first written reference of the word ‘cowpea’ appeared in 1798 in the United States. The name was most likely acquired due to their use as a fodder crop for cows. Black-eyed pea, a common name used for the unguiculata cultivar group, describes the presence of a distinctive black spot at the hilum of the seed.
What does cowpea mean?
Definition of cowpea
: a sprawling herb (Vigna unguiculata synonym V. sinensis) of the legume family related to the bean and widely cultivated in the southern U.S. for forage, green manure, and edible seeds also : its edible seed. — called also black-eyed pea, field pea.
Are cowpeas a bean or a pea?
Black-eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata) are a variety of the cowpea and are part of the family of beans & peas (Leguminosae or Fabaceae in the USA). Although called a pea, it is actually a bean. Both peas and beans are legumes, and both have edible seeds and pods.
What are cowpeas called?
cowpea, (Vigna unguiculata), also called black-eyed pea or southern pea, annual plant within the pea family (Fabaceae) grown for its edible legumes. The plants are thought to be native to West Africa and are widely cultivated in warm regions around the world.
What is the difference between beans and cowpea?
Moreover, beans have a more solid stem while peas have a hollowed-out stem. Hence, this is another difference between beans and peas. Besides, a further difference between beans and peas is that the beans can be consumed fresh or in their dried form while peas are mostly consumed in their dried form.
Where did cowpeas originate from?
Cowpea was domesticated in Africa, likely in both West and East Africa, before 2500 BCE and by 400 BCE was long established in all the modern major production regions of the Old World, including sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, India, and Southeast Asia.
Can you eat cowpeas raw?
The pods are eaten raw or stir fried, and some may even add it to a soup or eat them steamed. Raw cowpeas are commonly added to papaya salad and make a great vegetable to dip into chili sauce dip.
Are cowpeas good for you?
Cowpeas are rich in fibers, plant-based proteins, vitamins (A, C, thiamine, riboflavin, folate, and B6), iron, selenium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper, which have countless health benefits. The high fiber content and plant proteins in black-eyed peas reduce hunger hormones and enhance weight loss.
What is the difference between cowpeas and field peas?
Field peas are cowpeas, so named because they were grown as a rotational crop in the fields instead of in kitchen gardens. Dozens of different types—what we now call heirloom selections—were grown in Southern communities that valued them for their flavor and ability to flourish in local conditions.
Can you eat cow peas?
The beans can be eaten fresh or dried. For fresh-eating, they are generally ready to harvest 45 to 50 days after planting. At this point, they can be eaten fresh, or they can be frozen or canned. For use as peas for drying, Cowpeas are ready about 70 days after planting.
Do cows eat cow peas?
Cow peas are fast-growing, annual, summer forage legumes. They are excellent quality crops and have been used for fattening both sheep and cattle, and are also regarded as good feed for milking cows.
Is cowpea good for weight loss?
Cowpeas/chawli are packed with essential nutrients which offer a wallop of health benefits such as support weight loss, promotes digestive health, regulate diabetes and optimise cardiac wellness.
What is importance of cowpeas?
Importance. Cowpea’s high protein content, its adaptability to different types of soil and intercropping systems, its resistance to drought, and its ability to improve soil fertility and prevent erosion makes it an important economic crop in many developing regions.
Do black-eyed peas cause gas?
Precautions. For some people, black-eyed peas may cause stomach pain, gas, and bloating due to their content of raffinose, a type of fiber that can contribute to digestive issues ( 17 ). Soaking and cooking dried beans can reduce the content of raffinose and make them much easier to digest ( 17 ).
Are black-eyed beans and black-eyed peas the same thing?
Black-eyed beans are more often called black-eyed peas, and they are also know as field peas, lobiya, and chawli. Their botanical name is Vigna unguiculata, indicating that they belong to a different genus of plant than black beans.
Which is healthier beans or peas?
Summary. Peas are over 2.5 times richer in vitamins C, B1, and B3, phosphorus and copper, and five times richer in zinc. They are richer in vitamins B2, B6, and B9, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Peas are two times richer in dietary fiber, and they are considered a great source of dietary protein as well.
How long do cowpeas take to grow?
Cowpeas take 80 days or more to become ready for harvest. If growing on a vine, they will need some support like a pole or fence during their growth.
What class of food is cowpea?
herbaceous legume
The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an annual herbaceous legume (family Fabaceae) grown predominantly in Africa and is an important staple crop providing an affordable source of protein (Muranaka et al., 2016).
Are beans cowpea?
History of Cowpeas
Cowpeas are beans, not true peas like the English pea (Pisum sativum), but they’ve been called peas for so long that there’s no going back now.
What is the purpose of soaking Black Eyed Peas?
According to The New York Times, soaked beans cook faster and are easier to digest. Adding salt to the brine speeds up cooking even more, since the salt breaks down the bean’s tough skin.
Can cowpeas be eaten like green beans?
I learned something great about cowpeas, which I didn’t realize before growing them. You can actually pick them at any time during the growing season. The tender, young pods can be eaten just like green beans. The larger, still green pods can be shelled, and the peas can be boiled and eaten fresh.