*Ark of Taste Heirloom*
We have a fascination with unusual legumes here at Uprising Seeds. This pea was a new one for us on the farm and one we will certainly be growing more of! Known as 'Roveja' in Italy, it has been grown for centuries in the rugged and harsh landscape of the Sibillini mountains in southeastern Umbria. Its taxonomy is not clear but some consider this small wild pea to be an ancestor to the common pea, others a distinct species. Once a staple of the humble alpine cuisine of the region, it has recently reached a wider audience through a slow food presidium established to preserve and promote it. It is a truly gorgeous pea, multicolored and flecked with contrasting earth tones of browns, reds, blues, and greens. As a soup pea, it is hearty and flavorful with a delightful earthiness and almost fava-esque taste. In Umbria, it is also ground for flour to use in farecchiata also known as "polenta di roveja". Plants vine to about 5', requiring trellising, and feature beautiful bicolor pink and purple blooms.
