Physical Description
Snow peas are flat with edible pods through which you can usually see the shadows of the flat pea seeds inside. They are not as nutritious as garden peas but they do have higher levels of vitamin C and contain fewer calories.
Colors: Light Green
Tasting Notes
Flavors: sweet, nutty
Mouthfeel: Crunchy, Crisp, Aqueous, Refreshing
Wine complements: White wine, Late harvest reisling, Reisling, Viognier
Substitutes: Snap peas
Selecting and Buying
Choosing: When purchasing garden peas, look for ones whose pods are firm, velvety and smooth. Their color should be a lively medium green. Those whose green color is especially light or dark, or those that are yellow, whitish or are speckled with gray, should be avoided.
Buying: Snow peas can usually be found throughout the year in Asian markets and from spring through the beginning of winter in supermarkets.Both fresh and frozen snow peas are available.Frozen peas are preferable to canned peas as they retain their flavor and have lower sodium content.
Procuring: Peas are a cool weather crop. Although snow peas adapt better to higher temperatures than regular peas, for best results you should sow seeds as soon as the soil can be worked.Because they are legumes, there is no need to fertilize snow peas. However, snow peas, like most varieties of peas, are climbers and grow best with the support of a trellis, fencing, or beanpole.
Preparation and Use
To easily shell them, snap off the top and bottom of the pod and then gently pull off the "thread" that lines the seam of most peapods.Snow peas and snap peas can be eaten raw, although the cooking process will cause them to become sweeter.Healthy Sautéing is one of the best ways to cook these types of peas.
Cleaning: Before you remove the peas from the pod, rinse them briefly under running water.
Conserving and Storing
All varieties of fresh peas should be displayed in a refrigerated case since heat will hasten the conversion of their sugar content into starch.
Social/Political
History: The modern-day garden pea is thought to have originated from the field pea that was native to central Asia and Europe and has been consumed by man for thousands and thousands of years.Today, the largest commercial producers of fresh peas are the United States, Great Britain, China, Hungary and India.
