Hodmedods, based on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, focuses on produce from British farms especially less well-known foods, like the fava bean, which is still grown and exported but hasn’t really been eaten in Britain for centuries.
Hodmedods was founded by Nick Saltmarsh, Josiah Meldrum and William Hudson who all believe in good, sustainable and local food. Their aim is to bring these delicious but neglected British-grown ingredients back into the limelight.
Delicious, nutritious and used in many fantastic Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African and Indian dishes, British-grown dried beans and peas are very high in protein and fibre, low in sodium, and have a low glycaemic index. They are the perfect choice for diabetics looking for a British alternative to imported pulses, meat or dairy proteins.
As well as whole dried fava beans, Hodmedod supplies split dried fava beans, green Kabuki peas and dark Black Badger peas. The split fava beans are especially versatile and easy to cook and are perfect for soups, stews, curries, dal and dips. Also known as carlin or maple peas, black badgers are deliciously nutty and firm, making a good substitute for dark green or Puy lentils.
All Hodmedod’s produce is sourced from British farms. Important in British farming as part of crop rotation. Fava beans are a leguminous nitrogen-fixing crop providing a break from cereal and oilseed pests but until now entirely sold for export or livestock feed.
“We’re particularly interested in searching out less well-known foods, like the fava bean, which we still grow and export but haven’t eaten in Britain for centuries,” says Saltmarsh. “Once a staple part of our diet in Britain, our home-grown dried beans and peas became a forgotten ingredient as increasing wealth meant we ate more meat and dairy products in the 18th and 19th centuries, replacing pulses as the main source of protein. While we still produce over half a million tonnes of fava beans in the UK every year, they are either fed to livestock or exported to the Middle East and North Africa.”
Also known as carlin or maple peas, black badgers are deliciously nutty and firm, making a good substitute for dark green or Puy lentils.
Great British Fava Beans Facts:
- British fava beans are brand new to the domestic market
- All products grown on farms in the UK
- High protein (25%) and fibre (28%)
- High carbohydrate (28%) content but low glycemic index (GI)
- Low fat, low sodium
- Perfect for gluten-free falafel