Yellow Peas

Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of peas. Canadian peas are available in whole or split form, or they can be processed into flours, starches, proteins and fibres. Canadian peas are used globally as ingredients in food products, animal feed, pet food and aquaculture.

WHOLE YELLOW PEAS

Also known as: Matar, or White Vatana

Whole Yellow Peas (Pisum sativum) are part of the legume family. Whole Peas are about 1/4 of an inch wide and pale yellow in color. Whole Dried Peas have a history going back some 10,000 years. Originally from the Middle East, Peas soon spread throughout the Mediterranean region and on to India and China. The cultivation of Peas in Europe helped to stave off a famine in England in 1555. Peas are most commonly used in their split form. Today, Canada is the world’s largest exporter.

YELLOW SPLIT PEAS

Also known as: Arveja, Matar Dahl, or Gram Dahl.

Yellow Split Peas are part of the legume family. Split Peas are husked (or dehulled) and split in half. The Yellow Split Pea is about 1/4 of an inch wide and pale yellow in color. Split Peas have a mild flavor and soft texture. The Split Pea has more of an earthy flavor than the whole dried pea. Split Peas have a very ancient history and were domesticated before 6000 B.C. in the ancient near east. From here they spread across Asia, through China and also through the Mediterranean region. Both Greek and Roman civilizations relied on dried peas as an important ingredient in their diets. Peas began to be split during the time of ancient Egypt.