deteriorate quickly if then left at room
temperature).
Peas Peas come from a climbing plant native
to the Mediterranean area, and are eaten
immature both in the pods and as shelled
green seeds (their tender shoots, stems, and
leaves are also popular vegetables in Asia).
Vegetable varieties of pea were first
developed in the 17th century, beginning in
Holland and then in England, and for a long
time they remained luxury foods. There are
several different types of pod peas, including
the traditional English or European, round and
thin-walled, the very recent “sugar snap” pea,
round and thick-walled and quite crunchy, and
“snow” or Asian peas, flat and broad, thin-
walled, with small seeds. Peas and green
capsicum “bell peppers” contain similar and
very potent “green” aroma compounds
(isobutyl methoxypyrazines).