Pea
Scientists are unsure whether I originated in Central Asia, Ethiopia or the Mediterranean.
9000 year old wild pea seeds have been found in Turkey.
I am one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world.
I am easy to grow and high in protein, so I quickly became a staple crop throughout Asia and Europe.
The Romans probably introduced me to the Britain.
Until the 17th century I was usually eaten when my peas were hard and dry, and ground into a flour which was mixed with wheat or rye to make bread. I was also boiled with salted bacon to make a porridge - pease pudding.
