Chickpeas are legumes of the family, Fabaceae, and they are one of the oldest legumes to be cultivated by humans. They are large roundish legumes with a bumpy surface. There are two commercial classes of chickpea: Desi and Kabuli. The desi type has a thick, coloured seed coat and a coloured flower. The kabuli type (also known as garbanzo bean) has a thin, white seed coat and a white flower.