Beans

English-speaking islanders use the terms peas and beans interchangeably, as do all English-speaking communities. However, their usage differs slightly from most others. Kidney beans in Jamaica are called peas. In Trinidad pigeon peas are often simply referred to as peas, in the way we use the term peas to mean green peas. The French islands use the term pois, peas, for the beans, such as kidney beans, that originate in Mexico. Cuba follows Mexican usage and calls its beans frijoles. Puerto Rico is more apt to use the term habichuelas, while in the Dominican Republic both terms are used, though habichuelas occurs more frequently than frijoles. The only types of bean not available are the pois de bois of Guadeloupe, called Pois d’Angole in Martinique, which closely resemble pigeon peas.