Types Of Chickpeas Garbanzo Beans – The Facts On The Awesome Beans

Chickpeas Garbanzo beans are one of the most versatile foods that you can grow in your garden. This is because these little peas can give you many nutrients. Different types of chickpeas also have different gardening conditions.

This is why it’s important to know the differences, especially if you’re planning on growing one in your garden. Today, we will be listing and explaining the types of garbanzo beans!

Listing the Types of Chickpeas

Chickpeas are not just simple beans that have only one type. In fact, there are many kinds out there that have clear benefits both in gardening and nutrients. Also, are chickpeas and garbanzo beans different things?

Well, truthfully, chickpeas and garbanzo beans are practically the same. The only difference is in the culinary culture. Garbanzo beans are more commonly used in Spain, while chickpeas are a very popular culinary word in the United Kingdom.

If we’re going to divide chickpeas into many branches, we’ll have to start first with its two main variants.

#1 Desi

Chickpeas can be divided into the Desi and Kabuli. You can already distinguish a desi from a Kabuli at first glance. For starters, let’s tackle the desi type. Desi chickpeas are usually small and have a dark exterior.

However, inside you’ll see a very yellowish interior. Moreover, these chickpeas have a rough seed and a thick coating.

When it comes to desi chickpeas, the gardening time is different. Desi chickpeas need a seed rate around 40 kilograms a hectare. The planting method is also quite easy for desi types. You just need to plant it not deeper than 12 cm in the soil.

Also, keep in mind that desi types usually thrive in tropical conditions. The temperatures should go around 29 degrees Celsius for good germination. For the soil, loam that’s a little acidic will be ideal.

#2 Kabuli

If you’re scratching your head with the desi type, it’s probably because you’re not familiar with it. This is because the Kabuli type is the more common one out there that you seen in supermarkets.

Kabuli is the standard chickpeas that you see many people cook. They’re often beige in color, quite large, and has a thin coating. Although Kabulis have the same time as the desi when it comes to blooming, the Kabuli has a longer grain filling process.

The thin coating and the longer grain filling is why Kabuli are more at risk of infection from all sorts of elements. Examples of these would be chemicals, fungi, and insects. Although it’s a common type of chickpea, it’s a much more delicate seed to grow.

A good practice when planting Kabuli is to ensure that there are no cracks with its seed before planting. This is to protect it from fungi that can rot your seed by seeping through it.

On the flipside, these Kabuli chickpeas are one of the best sources of protein and dietary fiber. If you look at it this way, it makes it much more worth it. That’s why if you’re planting this at home, keep an eye on it!

Sub-variants of Chickpeas

Aside from the two main varieties of chickpeas (the Kabuli and Desi), there are still other chickpea products you can try and are available in the market.

#3 Green Chickpeas

The green chickpeas are one of the most common chickpea variants found in the market.

They are also very similar to your regular green peas regarding size, shape, and color. As for the taste, some might taste sweeter than the usual peas especially when fresh.

However, when used for a dish, it is still best seasoned with. Because in reality, all peas are quite bland.

Green chickpeas are not only useful in giving color to your dish, but they are also actually excellent for your diet as well.

Green chickpeas are an excellent source of fiber, folate (or vitamin B9) and antioxidant vitamins. But the best part is, they are very low in sodium and fat/cholesterol.

It can be a perfect addition to your everyday meal plans if you want to get fit this summer. And again, you do not have to worry about the availability of green chickpeas in the market because they are very common.

Finally, green chickpeas are also very easy to grow and highly sustainable. This is because the green chickpea plant fixes nitrogen naturally for itself. The nitrogen is what reduces the need for farmers to use commercial fertilizers.

#4 Black Chickpeas (Bengal Gram)

Usually grown in India, Black Chickpeas or the Bengal Gram are just sun dried chickpeas. That is what gives them their dark rust to black color.

When eaten, black chickpeas give an earthy aroma and flavor from being sun dried. They can also taste very nutty.

Black chickpeas are proven to be an effective dietary and weight loss aid. They also contain essential substances like antioxidants which promote cardiovascular benefits. Thus, they are good for lowering cholesterol.

A lot can be said about the benefits of black chickpeas to your health. So in general, black chickpeas aren’t simply just special delicacies from India, they are also very healthy.

Although farming black chickpeas might not be as easy because it will need a lot of moisture. So if you’re planting black chickpeas during the summer, make sure that the soil you will be using can absorb enough moisture.

#5 Chana dal Chickpeas

Lastly, chana dal chickpeas are small split desi type (or variant) of chickpeas. They are also most commonly found in Indian stores or specialty shops.

Unlike the other chickpea variants listed above, the chana dal chickpeas are yellow in color. Very similar to the yellow split peas.

Chana dal chickpeas also taste sweet and nutty when fresh. They are usually used to make chickpea flour in India.

When cooked with the right ingredients, chana dal is a good source of essential amino acids. It is also an excellent source of nutrients for people with diabetes since it is low on sugar.

Most important of all, it is full of protein yet very easy to digest. It is perfect for those who are in need of muscle development. Chana dal based recipes, a healthy diet in general, working out coupled with protein shakes might do the job.

Again, Desi chickpeas thrive in tropical weather and ideally, loam soil. And most importantly, they germinate faster than the listed chickpea variants. Thus, you can also apply same guidelines on farming and harvesting desi chickpeas on the chana dal.

Make sure that you plant the chana dal deeper into the ground. Also, take note of the possible diseases and pests you might encounter growing chana dal chickpeas.

In a Nutshell

To sum it all up, chickpeas look more than what they are. They’re easy to grow in your garden, but like any delicious plant, you’ll need to pay attention to get the best results. So be sure to do your homework and to further understand how these plants work.

Remember, patience is key. As long as you treat these garbanzo beans with care, you’ll reap the best benefits when it comes to nutrients.

There’s not much protein and fiber packed plant food out there that’s easy to grow like the chickpeas, so good luck gardening!