Baby Pea
Baby peas or petits pois refer to tiny, sweet English peas. The smaller ones need barely any cooking and are wonderful stirred into risotto at the last minute with a little grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Most baby peas are harvested for freezing.

Black-Eyed Pea
Sometimes available fresh in the summer. If you buy them still in the pod, you will need to shell the peas before using them.

Chickpea
Also known as yellow or green split peas, or garbanzo beans. These peas are usually dried and are often grouped with beans and lentils because of their similar flavors and uses.

English Pea
The most common variety for shelling is the English, or garden, pea.

June Pea
Also known as early peas, June peas are larger and have more starch than baby peas.

Snow Pea
A whole pea with a broad, flat pod, often the star of Chinese stir-fries.

Sugar Snap Pea
A plump, round, bright green whole pea.