FOOD NEWS
Why Do Chickpeas Have 2 Different Names?
BY Alyssa Chierchia
Chickpeas are sometimes referred to as garbanzo beans, but they are the same thing. They go by two names because of their historical popularity in many different cultures.
The name "chickpea" comes from the Latin word "cicer" and is primarily used in English-speaking countries, while "garbanzo" is the Spanish word used in Spanish-speaking countries.
"Garbanzo" comes from the word "garbantzu," which means "dry seed" in Basque, a unique language spoken in a region in northern Spain and France known as Basque Country.
So, it's called chickpeas in many Northeast states of the U.S., but a lot of Western states call it garbanzo beans due to the popularity and influence of the Spanish language.