Two varieties of chickpeas

• Desi chickpea
• Kabuli chickpea

They are green when picked early and vary through tan or beige, speckled, dark brown to black. 75% of world production is of the smaller desi type. The plant grows to 20 – 50 cm (8 – 20 in) high and has small, feathery leaves on either side of the stem. Chickpeas are a type of pulse, with one seedpod containing two or three peas. It has white flowers with blue, violet, or pink veins. A 100 g serving of cooked chickpeas provides 164 kilocalories (690 kJ). Cooked chickpeas are 60% water, 27% carbohydrates, 9% protein and 4% fat.