Cowpea

Nutrition and Quality

Cowpea: The Grain that Nourishes and Sustains

Cowpea, also known as string bean or black-eyed bean, is a legume originating from Africa that has been cultivated in Brazil since the 16th century.

It is a protein and energy food, rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

It is mainly consumed in the form of cooked dried grains or cooked green grains.

It is rich in proteins and its consumption provides several health benefits.

The antioxidants present in cowpeas help prevent coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Bela Cereais offers high quality cowpeas, sourced from the best producing regions.

Bean Cultivation and Harvest in Brazil

Cowpea Cultivation in Brazil

It is a crop traditionally planted in the Northeast, but has expanded to other regions of Brazil. Cowpea is the second most cultivated bean in Brazil.

It is considered rustic and resistant, but is not completely immune to pests and diseases.

Harvesting is carried out when the pods are dry, with the beans containing about 16% of moisture or less.

The grains must be dried, aiming to reach a moisture content of 13%.

Storage can be done in containers, cans or PET bottles.

Cultivation and Harvest

Planting period: In the Northeast, planting occurs between April and June. In the Central-West, planting is done after the soybean harvest between February and March as a second crop option.
Harvest period: The harvest takes place between July and September in the Northeast and between June and July in the Center-West.
Region that produces the most: Bahia and Piauí are the largest producers, with estimates of 500 thousand tons in the 2022/2023 harvest.