Nothing is more delicious on a hot summer's day than chilled minty pea soup. The pea is the seed of a type of legume. It grows inside a pod which splits open to reveal the peas. Many chefs discard the pods although they are actually edible. The fresh pods are rich in dietary fibre, highly nutritious and contain numerous vitamins and minerals. With time, the pods become tough and stringy and the vitamin content declines rapidly.

Peas – Legume with a Varied History

Evidence indicates that diners enjoyed peas during the Bronze Age, several thousand years ago. The Greeks and Romans devoured the pea, and in fact, the Romans knew more than 30 different varieties. The small peas, that we call petits pois, or piselli novelli, were first cultivated by the Italians.