FAVA (BROAD) BEANS-GENERAL INFORMATION
Michigan State University Extension 
Preserving Food Safely - 01600698 
08/03/99 

The fava bean looks somewhat like a large, overgrown 
green pea. Inside, the pale green, velvety pod is tightly 
packed with about six to eight beans that resemble large 
round limas. As with limas, the pods are edible only when 
they are very young and immature. As a rule, the pods are 
discarded. Fava beans, if available, arrive in spring and 
are out of season by early summer. California and New 
Jersey produce most of the U.S. crop. 

Some people are allergic to raw fava beans and 
ingestion of the uncooked favas can result in mild or acute 
discomfort and, in rare cases, can induce a coma. The 
cooked fava is not toxic. 


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