Chickpeas
The chickpea was originally cultivated on the lands bordering Mesopotamia and the eastern Mediterranean and has been grown in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa for many years. Chickpeas are estimated to be at least 7,500 years old.
Between 80 and 90 percent of the world’s chickpea supply comes from India, while most acreage in the U.S. is in California, eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Acreage continues to grow to make up for supplies that formerly came from Mexico, which has in recent years cut back chickpea production in favor of pinto beans.
Like lentils, chickpeas take their name from their shape, which resembles the beak of a baby chick. Some may also know chickpeas by their other name, garbanzo beans.