Chickpeas vs. Garbanzo Beans

Main Difference

The main difference between chickpeas and garbanzo beans is that the chickpeas are the name in English and the garbanzo bean is the Spanish name for the legume, “Cicer arietinum.”

Difference Between Chickpeas and Garbanzo Beans

Comparison Chart

Chickpeas vs. Garbanzo Beans

Chickpeas and garbanzo beans are rich in protein. Both belong to the family Fabaceae. Chickpeas and garbanzo beans are the same plants belonging to the same legume. There is no difference between the chickpeas and the garbanzo beans. Both refer to the same species. The only difference is of their different names used by different people. The etymology of chickpeas is from the Latin word “cancer.” Cicer evolved into the Anglo-French ‘chiche’, then to English ‘chich’. From ‘chich’ it evolved into chich pea, and then to its modern form “chickpea.” Garbanzo is Spanish in origin which was first used in 1759. The term derives from the Old Spanish “algarroba” or “garroba,” and from the old Spanish “arvanço.” Chickpeas and garbanzo beans are just among the various names and layman’s terms of the Cicer arietinum. Cicer arietinum belongs to the plant kingdom, Magnoliopsida class, Magnoliophyta division, Fabales order, Fabaceae family, and Faboideae subfamily. The genus of the plant is Cicer. The chickpeas or garbanzo bean or is one of the world’s earliest crops. It was cultivated as earlier as the ancient times by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The common names for this species are India pea, Ceci bean, Bengal gram, or Egyptian pea. There are two familiar types of garbanzo beans or chickpeas; they are the Kabuli and the Desi. The Kabuli means from Kabul. It is light in color with large seeds. The second type, the Desi (means native or local) is almost the opposite of the Kabuli. It is dark in color with a rough coat.

What is Chickpeas?

Chickpeas are one of the earliest legumes. They belong to the Fabaceae family. The chickpea is up to 20-50 cm in height. It contains small, feathery leaves. The flowers of chickpeas are white with blue, violet, or pink color veins. One seed pod of chickpeas contains two or three peas. There are two varieties of chickpeas. They are Kabuli, which is large and Desi, which has various colors. The colors of Kabuli is light tan, and the color of Desi can be dark brown, either black, tan, beige or speckled. The Kabuli means from Kabul. It is light in color with large seeds. It has a smooth coat, a uniform size, and a round shape. The type Kabuli is often cultivated in Europe, Northern Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Chile. The second type, the Desi (means native or local) is almost the opposite of the Kabuli. It is dark in color with a rough coat and small. It is cultivated in Ethiopia, India, Mexico, and Iran. Unlike the other type of chickpeas or garbanzo bean, Desi has a thicker seed coat that contains a higher concentration of nutrients. Chickpeas are food with great nutritional value. They contain a higher amount of dietary fiber, proteins, folate, iron, and phosphorus. They are also rich in vitamin B6, thiamin, magnesium, and zinc. The protein content of the germinated or cooked chickpeas consists of essential amino acids, including tryptophan, lysine, isoleucine, and aromatic amino acids. Other names for chickpeas are Ceci beans, Egyptian peas, Bengal gram, and, gram.

What is Garbanzo Beans?

Garbanzo beans are another name for chickpeas that comes from Spanish. It derives from the Old Spanish algarroba or arroba, and the Old Spanish arvanço. This name was first used in the 17th century. The chickpeas often refer to garbanzo beans in the areas with a strong Mexican or Spanish influence. Chickpeas(Cicer arietinum) is known by the following names in the food industry: garbanzo beans, garbanzos, Egyptian peas, and Ceci Beans. They are the same protein-rich beans that belong to the Fabaceae family. Garbanzo beans are a staple ingredient in many Middle Eastern and Indian dishes as a versatile legume. Also, they are an excellent source of folate, zinc, protein, and dietary fiber. They are rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. The plant has some additional health benefits. It is a rich source of carbohydrates. It contributes to better blood sugar control. It is good for diabetes. Garbanzo bean refers to a plant in the legume category. The scientific name of garbanzo beans is Cicer arietinum. It is one of the commonly consumed legumes in the world today. Garbanzo beans have a healthy amount of benefits. They are high in protein, contains tons of fiber, and helps to stop cancer cells from any further growth. Garbanzo beans are a great addition to the human diet as they boost the feeling of satiety. In turn, it lessens a person’s overall food consumption. Since garbanzo beans are rich in antioxidants, they help clean the colon and regulate cholesterol levels and blood flow resulting in less susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusion

Chickpeas and garbanzo beans are the seeds of legume belonging to the same family. There is only the difference of names that they have otherwise chickpeas, and garbanzo beans are used interchangeably.