English Peas

Description 
Peas date back to ancient times and are believed to be native to Europe and parts of Asia. Cultivation of peas however is thought to have begun in the seventeenth century when plant breeders in England began developing new and improved varieties of garden peas. The modern english pea was named as such due to the plethora of new varieties that were breed there. Because of their long shelf life dried peas traveled to the new world with explorers and became one of the first crops grown by early colonists. An Austrian monk, Gregor Mendel, performed famous plant breeding experiments in the second half of the nineteenth century and used peas as his basis. His work with pea plants is perceived as the foundation of modern genetics. English peas have a large bright green pod which encases plump, round peas or berries. The pods grow on vines and unlike snow and sugar snap peas are too fibrous to be edible, however the pods are great to use in Vegetarian Broths. Pods must be shelled first by snapping off the end and pulling the fibrous string along the length of the pod. Each pod contains five to eight emerald hued peas. Peas have a tender yet slightly crunchy texture and a sweet pea flavor. Cooking Instructions Our Earth Exotics™ packaging is unique and is designed for ease of use and with the intent of creating very little waste. Although our packaging is microwave capable, it is not the optimal way to prepare vegetables. We highly encourage you to try other cooking methods such as roasting, sautéing, steaming, and even boiling in some cases. You will find that the vegetables will have a better texture and flavor by utilizing some of these tried and true cooking methods, and will leave you with a better eating experience. Microwave: Cut a small corner of the bag (for venting) Microwave on Medium High for 3-4 minutes. Be cautious upon opening bag as peas will be hot and steamy. Boil: Combine peas and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring once or twice and lowering heat as needed to maintain a simmer, until peas are tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain peas, return to pan, and stir in butter, herbs (if using), salt and pepper. Steam: Place English Peas in a Steamer Basket, place basket in Sauce Pan with approximately 1” of water, Nutrition Facts English Peas / 6oz.
 Calories 129
 Carb (g) 24
 Fat (g) 0 
Sodium (mg) 0
 Vitamin A (io) 739
 Vitamin C (ng) 11
 Calcuim (mg) 0
 Dietary fiber (g) 7.4
 Sugar (g) 7.4 Storage, Handling & Prep SELECTION
 Although we take advantage of frozen peas in order to enjoy the legumes year-round, there's simply nothing that can replace the toothsome snap of a freshly shelled English pea. English peas — also known as shell peas and garden peas — Lucky for you, we have taken the painstaking work of shelling the English Peas from you and now offer fresh, shelled English Peas from Earth Exotics™. STORAGE
 Our Earth Exotics™ English Peas are sweet and crisp, start by looking for shiny, firm, brightly colored “berries” that feel swollen and heavy. When cooking with English peas, buy much more than you think you will need, as one pound of peas will only equate roughly to one cup (one serving) of shelled peas. While it's ideal to eat our Earth Exotics™ English Peas as soon as you purchase them, we have created a unique bag that will help to keep them fresh for a number of days after purchase when placed in the coolest part of the refrigerator. HANDLING & PREPARATION
 Earth Exotics™ English Peas can be enjoyed raw or by cooking them. Proper cooking brings out the sweetness in English Peas. There are many ways to cook Earth Exotics™ English Peas, however not all cooking methods are best for these crunchy little orbs of goodness. We highly suggest poaching them in a small amount of salted and buttered water. English Peas are best with a slight crunch to them, Al Dente you might say. Fresh english peas are rich in vitamin A and vitamin B (particularly folic acid), calcium, iron, zinc, and potassium. In addition they contain protein and fiber as well as lutein which has been shown to promote healthy vision. They also contain phytonutrients which have anti-inflammatory properties and can aid in the prevention of diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.