Chana

Product Information

Chana, commonly known as chickpea, Bengal gram, or gram, is an important pulse crop belonging to the legume family. Its scientific name is Cicer arietinum. Chana is one of the major pulses cultivated and consumed in India and is also grown in several countries across Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean region. There are two major types of chana: desi chana, which is smaller with a darker outer covering, and kabuli chana, which is larger, lighter in color, and commonly used in international cuisines. Chana is highly nutritious and provides plant-based protein, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, iron, folate, phosphorus, and other essential nutrients. In Indian cuisine, chana is used in many forms, including dal, curries, chole, roasted gram, sprouts, salads, snacks, and sweets. Chana is also ground into besan (gram flour), which is widely used to prepare pakoras, cheela, kadhi, sweets, and various food products. Chana generally grows well in cool and relatively dry climatic conditions. It is commonly cultivated as a rabi crop in India. Major producing states include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Due to its nutritional value, adaptability, strong market demand, and importance in Indian diets, chana is an economically significant pulse crop. It also contributes to sustainable agriculture because legumes can help improve soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation.