Cicer arietinum, also known as chickpea, is an annual legume of Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It is one of the earliest cultivated legumes, and 7500-year-old remains have been found in the Middle East. Several varieties of chickpeas are cultivated throughout the world. Chickpea is a key ingredient in hummus and chana masala, and they can be ground into flour to make falafel. It is also used in salads, soups, stews, curry, and other meal products.

Chickpeas are a nutrient-dense food. It provides rich content of protein, dietary fiber, folate, and certain dietary minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron. They also contain good amounts of B vitamins and vitamin A. This can be attributed to the manganese in chickpeas, which offers energy to cells and is known to fight free radicals that can cause wrinkles.