Barbados @ 50 - Pigeon Peas

While there is a wide variety of peas and beans - fresh and dried available in Barbados, Pigeon Peas is most associated with the cuisine of Barbados. The everyday staple of Rice and Peas is made with rehydrated dried pigeon peas. The fresh variety - much more expensive - is reserved for use on special occasions to make Rice and Peas; Christmas, Easter, Independence are among those special occasions. Pigeon peas is also used to make a Christmas dish called Jug - a mixture of pureed pigeon peas, salt meat and ham held together with guinea corn flour.