FAVA BEAN

(Vica fava)  Heirloom also known as 'Tic Bean'.  A type of broad bean with smaller pods and beans than the regular variety.  They can be eaten like broad beans at the shell out stage, but are traditionally left on the plants until the pods are black then harvested to use as a dried bean. These beans evolved in the Middle East/Mediterranean areas and are an ancient staple food consumed in many regional cuisines.  Dried beans are also cooked and used as a crunchy, salted or spiced nut called 'open mouth nuts'.  130 seeds