'Grandpa McKay's Cream Pea' African Pea

Vigna unguiculata Origin: Locust Bay, Arkansas Improvement status: Landrace Seeds per packet: ~45 Germination tested 11/2024: 92% Lifecycle: Annual It's not every day someone writes to us and says they have a treasured family heirloom seed they'd like to share. And it's even more unusual for the seed they send to be as unique and special as 'Grandpa McKay's Cream Pea.' This "southern pea" (or cowpea) — an African crop that was brought to this country by enslaved people hundreds of years ago — is significantly smaller than every other southern pea we've ever grown, with relatively short pods that are packed with seeds and produced in abundance. It's also a "cream pea" type, meaning it has a thin, pale, often fully see-through skin — allowing you to see the green heart of the pea almost until it's fully dried — and that it's best used fresh during the shelling stage. By harvesting when these peas are as plump and fat as they get, you can experience the most exquisitely creamy and delici