Broad beans (Vicia faba), also known as “fava beans” were cultivated in the Mediterranean at least 8500 years ago, now they are grown all over the world. Before climbing beans were introduced to Europe about 400 years ago “beans” meant fava beans. When horses were fed fava beans they became especially lively – “full of beans”.
The great advantage of beans like these is that the mature seeds can be stored and saved as a reliable source of protein for the whole year.