Broad fava beans, also known as Vicia faba, have a number of specifications including their nutritional content, seed size, and physical appearance.
Nutritional content
Protein: 26% of raw mature broad beans
Carbohydrates: 58% of raw mature broad beans
Fat: 2% of raw mature broad beans
Dietary fiber: Soluble fraction of 0.55–1.06% and insoluble fraction of 10.7–16.0%
Iron: 1.8–21.3 mg per 100 g
Seed size
Broad bean seeds are oblong or oval in shape
A thousand seeds weigh between 400–800 grams
The broad bean, or V. faba major, generally has a 1,000 seed weight of over 800 grams
Physical appearance
Broad beans are rigid, erect plants that can be 0.5–1.7 m tall
They have stout stems with a square cross-section
Their leaves are 10–25 cm long, pinnate with 2–7 leaflets, and of a distinct glaucous grey-green color
Storage
To maintain quality, store pulses dry and cool. Aeration cooling can help with holding higher moisture content pulses for short periods before drying or blending.