Why are chickpeas also known as garbanzo beans?
1) This legume has been known for thousands of years. Different languages and cultures gave it different names: “The chickpea (Cicer arietinum) (also garbanzo bean, Indian pea, ceci bean, bengal gram, chana, kadale kaalu, sanaga pappu, shimbra) is an edible legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. Chickpeas are high in protein, and one of the earliest cultivated vegetables. 7,500-year-old remains have been found in the Middle East.” “The name chickpea traces back through the French chiche to Latin cicer (from which the Roman surname Cicero was taken). The word garbanzo comes from Old Spanish (perhaps influenced by Old Spanish garroba or algarroba) through arvanço which may be linked to the Greek erebinthos.” Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbanzo_beans 2) “Cicero’s cognomen, personal surname, is Latin for chickpea. Romans often chose down-to-earth personal
