What Are Black-Eyed Peas Called In Africa?

Called niébé in parts of the Sahel, the black-eyed peas are dubbed “miracle peas,” or “poor man’s meat” in most of sub-Saharan Africa because of their high nutritive value and their ability to grow in harsh conditions.

Did black-eyed peas originate in Africa?

The Origin of the Humble Bean
Black-eyed peas (actually a bean, rich in potassium, iron, and fiber and protein but cholesterol-free and low in fat and sodium) are native to Africa, where they have been a popular food since the Middle Ages.

What is another name for black-eyed peas?

The black-eyed pea is a variety of the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), which is a member of the legume, pea, or bean family. Besides the popular name “black-eyed pea,” it is also known as “goat pea” and “southern pea,” and the most common commercial variety in the United States is called the California Blackeye.

What are black-eyed beans called?

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.

What are black-eyed peas called in the South?

Black Eyed Peas, Also Called Cowpeas, Are a Southern Staple. The cowpea is an ancient plant with West African origins. In the American South, the cowpea’s subspecies are more popularly known as black-eyed peas. However, Black-eyed peas are neither Fergalicious nor actual peas.

Did slaves eat black-eyed peas?

The enslaved grew black-eyed peas in their plantation gardens. By the mid-1700s, both the enslaved and slaveholders were eating black-eyed peas on a regular basis.

Why do African Americans eat black-eyed peas on New Year?

On New Year’s Eve, many African-Americans make a point to cook black-eyed peas to usher in the new year, and as author John Egerton wrote in his book Southern Food, it is believed they have a “mystical and mythical power to bring good luck.”

Are black-eyed peas the same as black beans?

Names can sometimes be confusing. For instance, black beans, sometimes called turtle beans, are a legume. Black eyed peas are a variety of cowpea and are also called black eyed beans. To simplify, peas and beans are legumes, both have edible seeds and pods and the term beans or peas is often used interchangeably.

Are cowpeas the same as black-eyed peas?

Black-eyed peas, also known as cowpeas, are a common legume cultivated around the globe. Despite their name, black-eyed peas are not peas but rather a type of bean.

What are the different types of black-eyed peas?

Black-eyed pea

Black-eyed peas
Fresh black-eyed peas
Species	Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.
Cultivar group	Unguiculata
Cultivar	Black-eyed peas

Which is healthier black-eyed peas or black beans?

A 3.5 oz (100 g) of canned black-eyed peas contain 286 kcal of calories while 3.5 oz (100 g) black beans contain 341 kcal calories.

What is the healthiest bean to eat?

1. Chickpeas. Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a great source of fiber and protein.
2. Lentils. Lentils are a great source of vegetarian protein and can be a good addition to soups and stews.
3. Peas. Peas are also a type of legume.
4. Kidney beans.
5. Black beans.
6. Soybeans.
7. Pinto beans.
8. Navy beans.

What are black-eyed peas called in the UK?

Black Badger peas
In the United Kingdom, black peas are also known as Black Badger peas and as carlin or maple peas. In the United States, use pigeon peas, or even black-eyed peas and cook as directed.

Why do you eat black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Years?

Black-eyed peas and collard greens are traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day across the South, to symbolize luck and money in the forthcoming year. Like so many of my favorite Southern foods, they came out of the African diaspora.

What happens if you don’t eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s?

So, we’ve established that eating black-eyed peas on January 1 will bring you a year’s worth of prosperity. But the luck won’t stick, according to many legends, if you don’t eat them with greens (which symbolize money), cornbread (which symbolizes gold), and pork (which symbolizes luck, as pigs root forward).

Where did the black-eyed pea tradition come from?

The practice of eating black-eyed peas for luck is generally believed to date back to the Civil War. Originally they were used as food for livestock and later as a food staple for enslaved people in the South.

What culture eats black-eyed peas?

But the tradition of eating black-eyed peas with rice is African in origin and spread throughout the South, especially in the Carolinas, in the form of pilaus or rice dishes simmered for a long time with chicken or shrimp. When black-eyed peas were added to the pilau, it became Hoppin’ John.

Why is it called Hoppin John?

A man named John came “a-hoppin” when his wife took the dish from the stove. The dish goes back at least as far as 1841, when, according to tradition, it was hawked in the streets of Charleston, South Carolina by a crippled black man who was known as Hoppin’ John.

Why do you put a dime in black-eyed peas?

Passed down from a lineage of Southern grandmothers, it wasn’t a proper New Year’s Day without a pot of black-eyed peas on the table with a dime inside. The dime would bring luck and prosperity to the family in the coming year, and whoever found the dime on their plate would get an extra boost of good luck.

What should you not eat on new year’s day?

What NOT To Eat On New Year’s Day

• Poultry & Winged Fowl. You should avoid eating anything with wings on New Year’s Day because it is believed your good luck will “fly away” with your meal.
• Lobster, Shrimp & Crab.
• Bottom-Feeding Fish.
• White-Colored Foods.
• Short Noodles.
• Keep Leftovers.
• Don’t Pass the Knife.

Why do you eat cornbread on new year’s day?

Cornbread – Representing gold, eating cornbread brings with it the hope of extra spending money in the new year. Pork – Another symbol of prosperity, eating pork is a tradition many cultures around the world believe.