Cicerchia Legume Seeds

A unique and uncommon type of legume that is in a category of its own. It’s an ancient legume variety commonly eaten in Asia and East Africa, and it’s actually so old it pre-dates grain agriculture. It has a grassy look to it, and small but charming white sweet pea flower blossoms with a touch of azure blue. The plants are bushy and low growing, with masses of blooms across the tops of the plants. Kinda gorgeous in an understated way. From the blooms flat pods form, containing flat, disc like pale greenish seeds. This legume species is commonly found on supermarket shelves in Italy, and has been adopted onto Slow Food’s Ark of Taste. That said, they’re not on my menu, I grow them for the flowers, but they can also harm people if eaten in enormous quantities because of a substance they contain – diaminoproprionic acid. They are easy peasy to grow, and thrive on neglect. Just give them room, not so much ‘up’ but sideways. Fresh, I found they tasted like green peas. 2022 seed.