Vicia faba is an annual grain legume originating in the Near East in the Early Period of domestication (5000BC - 0). There are three seed types: the broad bean or Windsor bean which is a large seed type; horse bean, a medium seed type; and a small seeded type (about the size of a pea) known as the faba bean or tick bean.

Fababeans are grown in temperate countries and at higher elevations or in cool seasons in parts of Asia, Africa and the Mediterranian, in the latter areas mostly as a food crop. In Europe the grain is used mostly for animal feed; sometimes the crop is grown as a forage crop or as a green manure. It is not common as a field crop in North America, however, the broad bean is known to most gardeners. According to FAO, 2.3 million hectares of "broadbeans" were grown globally in 1999 (the category probably includes all seed types).Largest producers were China and Ethiopia. Canada grew 19000 hectares.

"Faba nuts", deep fried in hot olive oil are a popular alternative to salted nuts in northern Africa and the Mediterranian. Persons with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are highly allergic to faba beans and its pollen - in fact the disease has long been known as "favism". G6PD deficiency is the most common enzyme deficiency globally, affecting some 400 million persons.

Contributed by D. Patriquin
Photo source:David Patriquin (Dalhousie University)