Snow Pea Carouby de Maussane

Snow Pea Carouby de Maussane is a traditional French variety that has been cultivated since the nineteenth century. This exceptional and flavourful climbing snow pea is renowned for its long, flat, light green pods, which can grow up to 25 - 30 cm in length. The young pods are tender, virtually stringless and have a sweet, fresh flavour. The plants are highly productive and continue producing new pods over a long harvesting period. Culinarily, Carouby de Maussane is exceptionally versatile. The young pods are eaten whole and are delicious lightly boiled, steamed or stir-fried. Thanks to their tender texture and sweet flavour, they are excellent as a vegetable, but also in salads, stir-fries and Mediterranean oven dishes. They pair beautifully with butter, garlic, lemon, mint, parsley and tarragon, and also complement potatoes, rice, chicken, fish and lamb.

As the pods mature, the peas continue to develop. At this stage, the young peas can be shelled and eaten fresh. If the pods are left to mature completely, they produce dried peas that, after soaking and cooking, are ideal for hearty soups, stews and purées. As a result, a single plant provides both delicious edible pods and, later in the season, fresh shelling peas or dried peas. With their mild, slightly sweet flavour, the pods are equally at home in French and Mediterranean cuisine as they are in traditional vegetable dishes. When not overcooked, they retain a pleasant crispness and a fresh green colour. Half hardy annual. Height: 180 - 250 cm.