Chick peas are also used as a vegetable. The kabuli type are used mainly in salad bars and vegetable mixes. They are also used in preparing a wide variety of snack foods, soups, sweets, and condiments. Smaller size kabuli chick peas are also milled for flour. The demand for large size kabuli chick peas in North America is growing.
Chick peas are an excellent source of protein, fibre, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
They are low in sodium and fat, and can be used in gluten-free, diabetic, low salt, low calorie, low cholesterol, and high fibre diets. Production among individual countries has been variable, but during the past 10 years there has been a downward trend in Australia, Turkey and Iran. Canada was the only country with a major upward trend in chick pea production. Countries in the Indian sub-continent and Australia produce mainly the desi type, Canada produces both the kabuli and desi types, and the remaining countries produce mainly the kabuli type. In 1999, the latest year for which world trade statistics are available, exports were 503,000 t and imports were 407,000 t.