Purple Sugar Snap Peas
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Purple Sugar Snap peas have purple pods that can be marbled with green, and grow to 8 centimeters in length. The inner walls of the pods, as well as the peas themselves, are lime green in color. The overall texture is snappy and crunchy with a rich water content. They have a fresh, grassy aroma and a sweet earthy flavor with nutty qualities. They are harvested when they are very young, before the pods are fully filled out, since they lose much of their sweetness, and tend to become stringy as they mature. Purple Sugar Snap pea plants bear numerous thin, coiled tendrils with soft green leaves and delicate purple flowers.
Seasons/Availability
Purple Sugar Snap peas are available year-round with peak season during the spring and fall months.
Current Facts
Purple Sugar Snap peas are botanically classified as Pisum sativum, and are a member of the Fabaceae family. Unlike shelling peas, Sugar Snap peas are entirely edible, including their blossoms, tendrils, leaves, and pods. Purple Sugar Snap peas are a relatively rare variety of snap pea. Purple Sugar Snap pea plants are some of the tallest in the snap pea family, reaching over 2 meters in height.
Nutritional Value
Purple Sugar Snap peas are a source of iron, and vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Applications
Purple Sugar Snap peas can be eaten raw or cooked, and can be used in place of green sugar snap peas. They provide a sweet crunch to salads, and can be steamed, boiled, and roasted. They retain their color when cooked, and make an eye-catching addition to stir-fries and curries. They pair well with mint, parsley, garlic, ginger, onions, and infused oils. To use Purple Sugar Snap peas, first wash them and remove the strings. Store Purple Snap peas in the refrigerator, where they will last for around a week.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Snap peas in general did not gain popularity in the United States until 1979, when the sugar snap variety was released and marketed as a healthy snack.
Geography/History
Snap peas were likely mutations from field and garden peas, although their exact history is not documented. Modern sugar snap peas in the United States originated from a cross between the Chinese snow pea and a mutant pea plant, and were the work of the notable botanist, Calvin Lamborn. He has continued to selectively breed peas for 35 years in Twin Falls, Idaho, and since then has produced numerous varieties of peas, including a rare Purple Sugar Snap pea. Another variety of Purple Sugar Snap pea came from plant breeder Dr Alan Kapuler, based in Oregon. His purple-podded Sugar Magnolia Snap Pea, is more widely available, and was first released in the 1990s.
