- Like a normal green pea pod in appearance.
- A pea pod which snaps or breaks like a green bean.
- Seeds are allowed to mature and become fully rounded pods have thick walls and are sweet and edible, except for the strings.
- Pod and pea is eaten whole.
Edible podded peas grow in cool, moist conditions. The crop is sensitive to heat. Pods can be damaged by frost, but stems and foliage are seldom affected. Peas thrive on a wide range of soils as long as the soil is well drained. Some varieties of peas require trellising and some grow on a dwarf shrub. Peas are grown from seeds in seedbeds and transplanted to paddocks with trellises, if required by variety. Peas are a legume crop and therefore some varieties are capable of manufacturing their own nitrogen. Peas require frequent irrigation to maintain optimum soil moisture.
It should have the tough strings removed before being blanched very briefly and seasoned or cooled and used with dipping sauces.
Botanical Name: Pisum sativum (Leguminoseae)
Alternative Names: Hoh laan dau, sweet pea, Chinese Pea, tua lan tau
Health Benefits
An excellent source of dietary fibre and a good source of protein, vitamin B, B2, B3, C and folic acid. Contains some calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron.
100g of Sugarsnap Pea yields the following:
- Calories – 14
- Total Carbs – 1% of DV
- Protein – 0.95g
- Dietary Fibre – 4% of DV
- Vitamin A – 7% of DV
- Vitamin C – 34% of DV
- Calcium – 2% of DV
- Iron – 4% of DV
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Selecting tips
Select young, tender pods with good green colour.
Storage: Store in an airtight plastic bag in the vegetable crisper.