The chickpea (Cicer arietinum) (also garbanzo bean, Indian pea, ceci bean, bengal gram, hummus, chana, kadale kaalu , sanaga pappu , shimbra) is an edible legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. Chickpeas are high in protein, and one of the earliest cultivated vegetables. 7,500-year-old remains have been found in the Middle East.