Garbanzo Beans vs Chickpeas: The Official Ruling

Finding of Fact: They Are the Same Thing

Both names refer to one species, Cicer arietinum, a legume that has been grown for thousands of years and is a staple from the Mediterranean to South Asia. A can labeled one way and a can labeled the other contain the same product. Many American cans carry both names on the same label.

A recipe that calls for one can be made with the other. No quantities change, because nothing has been swapped.

Where the Two Names Come From

The other name comes from the Latin cicer, which became pois chiche in French and “chich-pease” in older English. The modern spelling settled in during the 1700s. It has nothing to do with chickens.

Garbanzo is the Spanish word for the bean, and it entered American English through Spanish-speaking cooks, particularly in the Southwest and California. Where the Spanish word itself came from is not settled. A Basque origin is often repeated, and linguists dispute it.

Who Says Which

Worldwide, and in British English, the other name is more common. “Garbanzo” is common in the United States, especially in the West, and on Spanish-language packaging everywhere. In Spanish the question does not arise: they are garbanzos.

The Two Kinds

• Kabuli beans are the large, pale, round ones found in most American cans and bags.
• Desi beans are smaller and darker with a rougher coat. They are common in South Asian cooking, where they are also split to make chana dal and ground into besan, or gram flour.

Nutrition

One cup of cooked garbanzo beans has roughly 270 calories, 14.5 grams of protein, 12.5 grams of fiber, and 45 grams of carbohydrate, according to USDA FoodData Central. The figures are the same under either name.

The Ruling

Both names are correct. The name permitted on these premises is garbanzo bean.

The bureau's reasoning is brief. “Garbanzo” has three syllables and all three are good. The bureau does not find the alternative to be a serious word.

Violations are handled under the schedule of fines. Those wishing to comply voluntarily may sign the pledge.

Final

Questions Put to the Bureau

Are garbanzo beans and chickpeas the same thing?

Yes. They are two names for the same legume, Cicer arietinum. There is no difference in the plant, the bean, the flavor, or the nutrition.

Can I substitute garbanzo beans for chickpeas in a recipe?

Yes, one for one, with no adjustment. You are not substituting anything. It is the same ingredient.

Why are there two names?

They entered English from two languages. “Chickpea” descends from the Latin cicer through the French pois chiche. “Garbanzo” was borrowed from Spanish. American cans often print both.

Is a garbanzo bean a bean or a pea?

Botanically it is neither a true pea nor a common bean. It is a legume in its own genus, Cicer, and it is sold as a pulse, which is the dried seed of a legume.

Is one name for canned and the other for dried?

No. Either name can appear on canned or dried beans. The label is the packer's choice.

What is aquafaba?

Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of garbanzo beans, or the water they were cooked in. It whips into a foam and is used as an egg white replacement.

Now That the Name Is Settled

The bureau files garbanzo bean recipes, starting with crispy roasted garbanzo beans and how to cook them from dried.