Michigan State University Extension
Preserving Food Safely - 01600698
10/13/97

FAVA (BROAD) BEANS-GENERAL INFORMATION

    The  fava bean looks somewhat like  a large,  overgrown

green
pea.   Inside,  the pale green, velvety pod is tightly

packed
 with  about six to eight beans that  resemble  large

round
limas.   As with limas,  the pods are edible only when

they
are very young and immature.   As a rule,  the pods are

discarded.
  Fava beans,  if available, arrive in spring and

are
 out  of  season by early summer.   California  and  New

Jersey
produce most of the U.S. crop.                       

    Some  people  are  allergic  to  raw  fava  beans   and

ingestion
 of the uncooked favas can result in mild or acute

discomfort
 and,  in rare cases,  can induce  a  coma.   The

cooked
fava is not toxic.                                   

Go To Top of File &&&&&& MSU Extension Home Page &&&&&& Main Page for this Data Base

This information is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. This information becomes public property upon publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company. This file was generated from data base 01 on 03/09/98. Data base 01 was last revised on 10/13/97. For more information about this data base or its contents please contact wrublec@msue.msu.edu . Please read our disclaimer for important information about using our site.