1. Local variants

2. Artificial colouring

3. See also

4. References

Local variants

In Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and parts of Lincolnshire, mushy peas are often served as a snack on their own. In Nottinghamshire they are traditionally accompanied by mint sauce, and sold at open-air events such as fairs or fêtes. In Nottinghamshire, mushy peas served with chips is called a 'pea mix'. Mushy peas are also popular in Scotland served with fish and chips or as a wetter version with vinegar in a bowl.

A variant (particularly popular around Bolton, Bury, and Preston, Lancashire) is "parched peas" – carlin peas (also known as maple peas, or black peas) soaked and then boiled slowly for a long time; these peas are traditionally served with vinegar.

Mushy peas have occasionally been referred to as "Yorkshire caviar".^[3]

Artificial colouring

Green colouring is often used to colour mushy peas. It is typically achieved by adding the yellow and blue additives, Tartrazine (E102) and Brilliant Blue FCF (E133), which together produce the green effect. The use of artificial colours results in bright green mushy peas. Pure mushy peas, with no colouring, tend to form a more grey-green end product. Sodium bicarbonate (E500) is often added to soften the peas to enhance the colour and to inhibit fermentation during soaking, which reduces later flatulence in consuming said foods. The British Food Standards Agency, on 28 April 2008, asked for a voluntary ban on artificial food colourings and suggested that the ban would be practical by the end of 2009. This would mean that certain foods, including mushy peas, would need to be free of the additive, otherwise the item might be removed from sale.^[4] Ministers have stated that they will pursue a ban through law if food manufacturers do not phase out the food colourings.^[5] As of 2018, the ban is yet to come into effect.^[6]

Mushy peas present a particular problem since replacing tartrazine proved challenging. While natural alternatives do exist - most notably beta-carotene, which is the natural orange pigment found in carrots and curcumin, which is extracted from turmeric - they do not result in colours as strong nor as vibrant, which is why manufacturers prefer to use tartrazine if possible.^[7] Without the colourant the dish would be murky grey. In July 2010 an EU directive required the warning label "May have effects on activity and attention in children" to be applied to foods containing tartrazine.^[8]

See also

• Black peas
• Pea soup
• Pease pudding
• List of legume dishes

References

• Nigel Walker (criminologist)
• Nigel Watson (musician)
• Nigel Weatherill
• Nigel Whalley
• Nigel Wicks
• Nigel Williams-Goss
• Nigel Williams (priest)
• Nigel Wilson (businessman)
• Nigel Winfield
• Nigel Wolpert
• Nigel Wright (musician)
• Nigel Wykes
• Nigel Zuniga
• Nigel Zúniga
• Niger 2005-2006 drought
• Niger (African Region)
• Niger Air Force
• Niger at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
• Niger at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships
• Niger at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
• Niger at the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Niger at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
• Niger at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships
• Niger at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics
• Niger at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics