Ten fun facts about Black-eye beans

Fact 1
The center of the bean, or the black eye, was originally called a 'mogette', the French word for nun, because it was similar to a nun's head wrap.

Fact 2
Eating black-eyed beans on New Year's Day in the American South is said to be good luck. The peas symbolize coins.

Fact 3
When refrigerated, if the outside of the bean gets moldy, the inside of the black eye bean is still edible.

Fact 4
Since the beans were considered 'field peas' and animal food, the Union troops would not take them for food and would destroy them back during the Civil War.

Fact 5
These beans were usually considered 'slave foods'. The slaves brought them to the West Indies from West Africa in 1674.

Fact 6
The skin on these beans is much thinner than other beans, so they come off easier. It is also said to remove them for better digestion.

Fact 7
Not only are the beans low in fat, but they are rich in soluble fiber which helps decrease the cholesterol in your body.

Fact 8
The blossom of the black eye bean can produce plenty of nectar, and large sources even produce honey.

Fact 9
Although it is a subspecies of the cow pea and is sometimes called a black-eyed pea, it is a legume.

Fact 10
A 1/2 cup of black eye peas contain about 100 calories but are 30% protein. They can count as an entire serving of protein or vegetables.