Black-eyed pea
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2008-07-12T16:01:03Z
Алиса Селезньова
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{{Otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Black-eyed pea
| image = BlackeyeBean.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[growing plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Vigna]]''
| species = ''[[Vigna unguiculata|V. unguiculata]]''
| subspecies = '''''V. u. unguiculata'''''
| trinomial = ''Vigna unguiculata unguiculata''
| trinomial_authority = | date = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) Walp.
}}
The '''black-eyed pea''', also called '''black-eyed bean''', '''blackeye''', 眉豆 (Cant. mei4 dao6), '''lobiya''' ([[Arabic language|ar]]: لوبيا), '''rongi''', '''feijão-frade''', '''Alasandee''' ([[Kannada]] name) or '''chawli'''/'''chawle''', is a subspecies of the [[cowpea]], grown for its medium-sized edible [[bean]], which mutates easily giving rise to a number of varieties, the common commercial one called the California Blackeye being pale-colored with a prominent black spot. The currently accepted botanical name is ''Vigna unguiculata'' subsp. ''unguiculata'', although previously it was classified in the [[genus]] ''[[Phaseolus]]''. ''Vigna unguiculata'' subsp. ''dekindtiana'' is the wild relative and ''Vigna unguiculata'' subsp. ''sesquipedalis'' is the related asparagus bean. Other beans of somewhat similar appearance, such as the "Frijol ojo de cabra" ("Goat's eye bean") of Northern [[Mexico]] are sometimes incorrectly called "black eyed peas" and vice versa.
[[Image:Lobia.jpg|thumb|Cowpea beans|244px|right|Black-eyed pea beans]]
== History ==
Originally native to Africa, but widely grown in many countries in [[Asia]], the black-eyed pea was introduced into the [[West Indies]] and from there to the [[Southern United States]], where it is still a widely used ingredient in [[soul food]] and [[Southern U.S. cuisine]]. The planting of crops of black-eyed peas was promoted by [[George Washington Carver]] both because, as a [[legume]], it adds [[nitrogen]] to the [[soil]] and for its [[nutrition]]al value. Black-eyed peas are an excellent source of [[calcium]] (211mg in a 1 [[Cup (unit)|cup]] serving), [[folate]] (209mcg), and [[vitamin A]] (1,305 IU) among other nutrients.
== Culture ==
The heat-loving crop is seeded after the danger of frost is past and the soil is warm. [[Sandy loam]] is preferred, but at least the soil should be well-drained, as the plants cannot stand excessive water. They are also known as a [[drought]]-tolerant crop.
The crop is relatively free of [[pest (animal)|pest]]s and disease. [[Root-knot nematode]]s can be a problem, especially if crops are not rotated. As a [[nitrogen fixation|nitrogen fixing]] legume, fertilization can exclude nitrogen.
The blossoms are heavy [[nectar]] producers and significant areas can be a source of [[honey]]. Because the bloom attracts a variety of [[pollinator]]s, care must be taken in the application of [[insecticide]]s to avoid [[pesticide misuse|label violations]].
It is also known as [[Barbati]] in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra in India.
== Traditional use ==
[[Image:Vietblackeyedpeas.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Several cups of ''chè đậu trắng'', a Vietnamese dessert made with black-eyed peas]]
Black-eyed peas are traditionally eaten on New Year's Day in the American South and in some other parts of the U.S. In some areas, they are served as a starchy side dish, cooked with or without sidemeat, bacon, ham bones, [[fatback]] or another pork product and/or diced onion, and often served with a hot [[chili sauce]] or a pepper-flavored [[vinegar]]. In other areas, they are served in a traditional dish called "[[Hoppin' John]]" made of black-eyed peas cooked with [[rice]], sometimes [[pork]] (such as hog jowls, ham hock, sidemeat or [[fatback]]), and seasonings.
The traditional meal also features [[Collard greens|collard]] or [[Mustard plant|mustard]] [[greens (vegetable)|greens]] or [[cabbage]]. This is supposed to bring good luck and financial enrichment. The peas stand for good luck, the greens symbolize paper money. [[Cornbread]] also often accompanies this meal.
The "good luck" traditions of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day are recorded in the Babylonian [[Talmud]] (compiled ~500 CE), Horayot 12A: "[[Abaye]] [d. 339 CE] said, now that you have established that good-luck symbols avail, you should make it a habit to see Qara ([[bottle gourd]]), Rubiya (black-eyed peas, Arabic Lubiya), Kartei ([[leeks]]), Silka (either [[beets]] or [[spinach]]), and Tamrei ([[dates]]) on your table on the New Year." A parallel text in Kritot 5B states that one should eat these symbols of good luck. The accepted custom (Shulhan Aruh Orah Hayim 583:1, 16th century, the standard code of Jewish law and practice) is to eat the symbols. This custom is followed by Sefaradi and Israeli Jews to this day. The first Sefaradi Jews arrived in Georgia in the 1730s and have lived there continuously since. The Jewish practice was apparently adopted by non-Jews around the time of the Civil War.
These "good luck" traditions date back to the U.S. Civil War. Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General [[William Tecumseh Sherman]], would typically strip the countryside of all stored food, crops, and livestock and destroy whatever they couldn't carry away. At that time, Northerners considered "field peas" and corn suitable only for animal fodder, and as a result didn't steal or destroy these humble foods. Many Southerners survived as a result of this mistake.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=50a6990df9b8c858
| title = Black-eyed pea tradition dates back to 1800s
| accessdate = 2007-13-07
| author = Melissa Johnson
| publisher = The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise
}}</ref>
[[Rice and peas]] is a popular dish in [[Jamaican cuisine|Jamaica]] and other Caribbean Islands.
[[Texas Caviar]] is a traditional New Year's Day dish made from black eyed peas marinated in Italian salad dressing and chopped garlic and served cold.
In [[Portugal]] black-eyed pea is used to serve boiled [[cod]] and [[potato]]es and also with [[tuna]] and in salads.
In [[Vietnamese cuisine|Vietnam]], black-eyed peas are used in a sweet dessert called ''chè đậu trắng'' (black-eyed peas and [[Glutinous rice|sticky rice]] with [[coconut milk]]).
In Cyprus, they are eaten with sliced vegetables, oil, salt and [[lemon]].
==Cultural references==
* In the song "[[The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite]]" by [[R.E.M. (band)|R.E.M.]], the lyrics include the phrase "a can of beans or black eyed peas, some [[Nescafé]] and ice".
* In the song "Cornbread" by the Freestyle Fellowship, rapper [[Aceyalone]] throws the phrase "black eyed peas with a lot of [[Tabasco]]" into a list of things he likes.
* In the song "[[Goodbye Earl]]" by The [[Dixie Chicks]], black-eyed peas are mentioned as a food which is poisoned and fed (unbeknownst to him) to an abusive husband by his wife and her best friend to retaliate for the abuse.
* The vegetables are also mentioned in [[Bobbie Gentry]]'s 1967 ballad "[[Ode to Billie Joe]]": ''Papa said to Mama as he passed around the black-eyed peas, <nowiki>"</nowiki>''Well, Billy Joe never had a lick of sense; pass the biscuits please.''<nowiki>"</nowiki>''
* A character on the TV show [[The Poddington Peas]] is named Black-Eyed Pea.
* [[The Black Eyed Peas]] are a three-time Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop group from Los Angeles.
* In the song Soulville (sung by many soul and motown artists, including [[Aretha Franklin]]) the outro lyrics include the line "''I'm talking 'bout the black-eyed peas, down in soulville''."
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Black-eyed-pea.jpg|Black-eyed peas
Image:Black-eyed-pea-close.jpg|Close-up of the black eye
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
* [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=27018 ITIS 27018]
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov2/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?300675] USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. [[Germplasm Resources Information Network]] - (GRIN) Online Database . National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. (16 July 2005)
* [http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Vigna.html#unguiculata-unguiculata] Porcher Michel H. et al. 1995 - 2020, Sorting Vigna Names. Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D) - A Work in Progress. School of Agriculture and Food Systems. Faculty of Land & Food Resources. The University of Melbourne. Australia. (2005).
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/cowpea.html Alternative Field Crops Manual: Cowpea]
* [http://www.cai-sa.pt/feijaofrade.en.html Portuguese Manufacter of canned beans: quatro folhas]
[[Category:Faboideae]]
[[Category:Edible legumes]]
[[Category:Cuisine of the Southern United States]]
[[Category:Underutilized crops]]
[[Category:Soul food]]
[[ar:لوبيا]]
[[bg:Папуда]]
[[de:Augenbohne]]
[[fr:Cornille]]
[[sv:Ögonböna]]