There are two main kinds of chick peas:

1. Desi Chick Peas Specification:

Foreign Matter: 1%
Green (Cotyledon color), Immature, shrunken, shriveled seeds: 3%
Broken and Splits: 2%
Damaged and Weeviled: 3% (Weeviled 2% max.)
Moisture: 10%
Varietals Admixture: 3% (max.)
HS Code: 07132000

The Desi type is smaller in size, has a thick, dark colored seed coat and is either de-hulled and split or de-hulled and ground into flour. It can also be roasted and puffed after splitting. Desi Chick peas has high fiber content compared to the Kabuli variety, which has small, darker seeds and a rough coat, cultivated mostly in the Australia, Indian subcontinent, Iran, Mexico & Ethiopia. The Desi (meaning 'country' or 'local' in Hindi) is also known as Bengal gram or kala chana. The Desi type is used to make Chana Dal, which is a split chickpea with the skin removed. Desi Chick peas are used mainly in dhal, sauces, puffed or ground into flour. It is widely used in Asian and African cuisines. Desi is likely the earliest form since it closely resembles seeds found both on archaeological sites and the wild plant ancestor (Cicero reticulate) of domesticated chick peas, which only grows in southeast Turkey, where it is believed to have originated. Desi chick peas have a markedly higher fiber content than Desi types have small angular seeds weighing about 120 mg, are wrinkled at the beak and range in color from brown, light brown, fawn, yellow, orange, black or green. They are normally dehulled and split to obtain dhal and are favored in India. It is mainly produced in Australia, Canada, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Malawi in Africa & exported to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Sri Lanka.

        2   Kabuli Chick Peas Specifications:

Moisture (V/W): 12% max.
Broken /Split / Insect Infested: 2-2.5% max.
Aborted / Green / Brown Seeds: 1-6.5% max.
Stained Seeds: 0.5 - 6.5% max.
Smooth Seeds: 0.5 - 6.5% max.
Extra. Foreign matter (by weight): 0.2% max.
Weevil Damage: Nil
Total Defects (by weight): 4.2 - 9.2% max.
HS Code: 09132000

Kabuli Chick peas sizes are 7, 8, 9 and 10mm and hence a very low glycemic index which may make them suitable for people with blood sugar problems. Kabuli Chick peas, which has lighter colored, larger seeds and a smoother coat, mainly grown in Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Chile, also introduced during the 18th century to the Indian subcontinent. Kabuli (meaning 'from Kabul' in Hindi, since they were thought to have come from Afghanistan when first seen in India) or safed chana is the kind widely grown throughout the Mediterranean. The Kabuli variety has a thin, white seed coat and it is relatively bigger in size than other variety. It is grown in temperate and sub-tropical regions. The Kabuli variety has a thin, white seed coat and it is relatively bigger in size than other variety. It is grown in temperate and sub-tropical regions. Kabuli have large, rounder seeds, weighing about 400mg. They are white to cream colored and are almost exclusively used whole. They are preferred through the Mediterranean region. Kabuli Chick peas is used mainly in salad bars, soups, snack food, vegetable mixes, or ground into hummus. It is widely used in Spain, Algeria, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Kingdom and Italy, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines.

Processing: The grades are Machine Cleaned, HPS (hand-picked and selected) and Sortexed.
Storage: Chick peas can be stored for 6 - 12 months, without exposure to heat, light and moisture.