A small, round green legume. Peas grow in pods on vines, and some varieties (sweet peas, sugar peas, sugar snap peas, snow peas) are eaten in the pod. Most commonly, peas are separated from the pods and eaten alone. Peas have an almost powdery, rough consistency like potatoes or beans, and like beans can cause flatulence. Peas in the pod are eaten raw or stir-fried, while loose peas are almost always cooked, either steamed or boiled and eaten alone, sometimes with butter, or put in soup. Split-pea soup with ham is a french-canadian favourite.