Green Beans

Are you able to distinguish among "garden peas," "snow peas," and "sweet peas"?

All three of these have a green appearance, and they are often sold together at the market. However, distinguishing between them can sometimes be confusing.

Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of each of these beans:

Garden Peas:

Garden Peas have round, firm pods that contain bright green beans resembling jewels. When you eat them, you need to remove the pods and enjoy the sweet and soft green peas inside.

It's important to note that fresh garden peas don't retain their sweetness well over time. The longer they are exposed, the less sweet and powdery they become. Therefore, it's best to cook and consume them while they are still young.

Snow Peas:

Snow peas have flat pods with small beans inside, and they are usually consumed with their pods intact. These peas are often stir-fried on high heat or boiled and served cold.

Their pods are flat, long, and wide, and the beans inside are small. Snow peas are tender and easy to eat.

Snow peas have a soft and smooth texture, regardless of their growing time. Snow peas inside are small, and the pods are flat, long, and wide.

People love snow peas for their crisp texture and mild, refreshing flavor.

Sweet Peas:

Sweet peas are a hybrid of garden peas and snow peas, offering a taste and appearance that falls between the two. The plump pods resemble those of garden peas, and the beans inside are smaller than garden peas but larger than snow peas.

Like snow peas, they are eaten with their pods and combine the sweetness of garden peas with the freshness of snow peas. Cooking them is similar to preparing snow peas.

Interesting Facts about Garden Peas:

Garden peas are at their sweetest when freshly picked. Once the pods are opened, the sugars inside the garden peas begin to convert into starch. This is why garden peas become less sweet as they sit.

To maintain their flavor, garden peas are usually frozen within three hours of harvesting.

Globally, only about 5% of garden peas are sold fresh, with the majority being either canned or sold in frozen form. India is the world’s largest producer of garden peas, while the majority of frozen garden peas consumed in Europe come from the UK.

Garden peas are among the oldest vegetables on Earth, making it difficult to pinpoint their exact origin due to their widespread cultivation.

Garden peas are green because they are picked before reaching full ripeness; they turn yellow when fully ripe.

Garden peas are rich in plant proteins, which can enhance the immune system. Additionally, they possess a sweet and neutral flavor and can help balance digestion, promote urination, and alleviate skin issues.

While snow peas contain essential amino acids, dietary fiber, vitamin A, and other nutrients. They also contain a unique plant lectin that boosts metabolic functions.