can you eat wild sweet peas

Can You Eat Wild Sweet Peas? Separating Fact from Fiction

Sweet peas are a beloved garden flower but did you know there are wild varieties that are also edible? Wild sweet peas grow all over North America and can be a tasty addition to your foraging repertoire. However rumors persist that you should avoid eating wild peas entirely. Where does the truth lie? Let’s dig into the facts around wild peas and their edibility.

To start, we should clarify that true wild sweet peas belong to the genus Lathyrus, which contains over 160 species worldwide The cultivated garden sweet pea, Lathyrus odoratus, originated in Sicily and is inedible But many of its wild cousins are safe and nutritious foods when consumed in moderation.

The key words are “in moderation” – some species of wild pea contain natural toxins that can cause a neurological condition called lathyrism if you eat too much over a long period. But occasional, limited consumption of wild peas poses little risk for most people.

Historical Use of Wild Peas

Indigenous peoples across North America have traditionally eaten wild peas. The beach pea (L. japonicus) was consumed by coastal First Nations from Alaska to Maine. Plains tribes like the Omaha and Cochiti peoples gathered the prairie pea (L. polymorphus). Northern California groups such as the Karuk ate the shoots of L. gramnifolius.

In fact, research shows at least a dozen North American wild pea species were part of Native diets. This demonstrates they can be safely eaten if you don’t overindulge. So where did the idea that wild peas are universally toxic come from?

The Origin of the Poison Pea Myth

It seems the myth traces back to a misunderstanding around one particular cultivated pea – the chickling vetch, also called grass pea or cicerchia (Lathyrus sativus).

This Eurasian species contains a neurotoxin called ODAP that can cause lathyrism if eaten as a staple food over months. However, research confirms eating small portions of grass peas along with a varied diet is safe for most people.

At some point, the potential risks of overconsuming this one species appears to have morphed into a vague warning against all peas in the genus. But in reality, most Lathyrus are harmless when eaten in moderation as part of a diverse diet.

Forager John Kallas extensively researched wild peas and found no evidence of poisoning from moderate intake. As he concluded, “no food plant in the world today can guarantee 100 percent freedom from any harm, under all circumstances.”

Identifying Wild Sweet Peas

Now that we’ve separated fact from fiction, let’s look at some tips for recognizing edible wild sweet peas.

Start by learning to identify the distinctive pea family flowers, which have a specialized papilionaceous shape. Wild sweet pea blooms come in colors like purple, pink, white, or blue. They produce slender seed pods containing the peas.

Pay attention to plant size and stem shape to distinguish sweet peas from vetch, a non-toxic pea lookalike. Peas tend to be larger plants with angular, winged stems. Vetch has skinnier round stems.

Of course, positively identifying any wild edible takes practice. When starting out, go foraging with an expert or use multiple identification guides to cross-reference.

Harvesting and Eating Wild Sweet Peas

Wild sweet peas can be harvested at different stages for varied uses. The pretty flowers make a lovely garnish or tea. The young shoots and tendrils are good lightly cooked.

Once the seed pods form, you can eat the peas like snow peas or shell them. Shelled wild peas are small but their sweet, fresh pea flavor is a treat. Dry the mature peas to use like beans or lentils.

To get the most from your foraged peas:

• Boil young pods for 3-5 minutes to soften before eating.

• Shell green peas right before cooking for best flavor.

• Time dry pea gathering carefully – pick when pods are brown but before they burst open.

• Store dried peas loosely to allow for popping – the seeds will fly!

• Enjoy peas fresh or cooked in soups, grain bowls, and more.

The Takeaway on Wild Sweet Peas

While certain species of wild pea contain toxins, most are perfect safe to eat in moderation. North Americans have enjoyed wild peas for centuries with no ill effects when consumed as part of varied diet.

So don’t fear those pretty wild peas on your next foraging adventure. With proper identification and care not to overindulge, you can add these free foods to your regular edible plant repertoire. Just be sure to pair your wild harvest with other foraged goodies and cultivated foods for a balanced diet.

In the world of foraging, few wild edibles offer both beautiful flowers and tasty nutrition like wild sweet peas. Now that you know they aren’t poisonous after all, get out and gather your own! Just don’t forget to leave some peas behind to produce next year’s bounty.