Tag: Legume classification

Botanically, both garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) and peas belong to the same plant family, Fabaceae, often called the legume family. This shared ancestry is a source of confusion, but the answer to whether a garbanzo is a bean or a pea lies in its more specific classification and physical characteristics.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), chickpeas are the third most produced food legume globally. The seemingly simple chickpea, known scientifically as *Cicer arietinum*, is classified in several ways, from its broad botanical family to more specific commercial varieties that influence their culinary uses.

The chickpea is the third-largest food legume produced globally, known scientifically as *Cicer arietinum* and belonging to the family Fabaceae. A complete understanding of its botanical hierarchy reveals its relationship to other well-known legumes and provides crucial context for its nutritional and agricultural significance.