Origin: India

Description
Popular in India and Brazil, this herbaceous annual plant ranges from 20-90 cm in height and produces fuzzy pods 4-7 cm long. There can be 4-10 seeds in each pod: small, oval, slightly kidney-shaped, somewhat square at the ends and, as their name indicates, usually black, although there are also gray, green, brown varieties, etc. 

Nutritional value

• Calories: 345
• Protein: 20 - 24 g
• Fat: 1 - 2 g
• Carbohydrates: 55 - 65 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Rich in calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin B

Cooking and The Worldwide Gourmet

In flavor and texture, they're tender with a slight mushroomy note.

• In Asia, they're a staple in black bean sauce
• Don't be surprised by the black color of the water!
• They require 1 1/2 to 2 hours cooking