Marrowfat peas "medullare"). The word was coined around 1730 from "marrow" and "fat". Another source says the peas were named because people wanted plump ("fat") peas of the "Maro" variety, a Japanese variety introduced to England 100 years ago. Marrowfat peas Marrowfat peas are green mature peas that have been allowed to dry out naturally in the field, rather than be harvested whilst still young like the normal garden pea. They are used to make mushy peas, and also the snack food wasabi peas. Marrowfat peas with a good green color are exported from England to the Middle East and Japan for
Mushy peas 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