We're a few weeks off from November the 5th and therefore Bonfire Night yet, but I was so excited to find dried black peas - aka maple peas - at the stall of the man who sells herbs, spices and dried foods in my local town. I had been on the hunt for them in order to have a go at making traditional Lancashire Bonfire Black Peas - a dish which is particular to the North West of England, and is eaten on Guy Fawkes Night, the 5th November.
My memories of eating black peas involve me trying to stay warm on Bonfire Night, slathering them in vinegar then scooping them out of a small tub with my mittens on, while watching fireworks clash and burst in the sky. They conjure up wonderful childhood times for me.
For those outside of the UK - Bonfire Night is the same as Guy Fawkes Night - when we morbidly mark the occasion of when a man named Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up parliament with a gunpowder plot, and was burnt for committing treason. We have bonfire parties and fireworks, and sometimes burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes, when people can be bothered making one. Although black peas are also often served on Halloween, too, nowadays.
I have always loved black peas, best when they have gone mushy and have plenty of salt and vinegar on the top. However, I have never made them myself, surprisingly. Until now, that is.
And ahhh yes - they are vegan too, by default of being simply a type of cooked-up dried pea, pretty much left in their water with some seasoning added. It's funny, because I know so many people who say they have never eaten vegan food, and yet I know they have eaten black peas! So, um, they are wrong, hehe.
And to let you know - these turned out just like I remember them. Basically, the trick it seems is to boil them to the back of beyond, so they have no memory remaining of their life as a hard, dried pea!
Anyhow - whether you'd like to cook them up for Halloween or indeed for Bonfire Night, or just for the hell of it because you can - here's how I made mine:
Traditional Lancashire Bonfire Black Peas
To serve 6-8 people (the peas are meant to be eaten as a small snack/nibble, rather than a main course) use about:
1 cup / 150g black peas (maple peas) - soaked in water for 24 hours
After soaking and draining the black peas, cover them in plenty of salted water in a large pot, and bring to a raging boil. Then turn down the heat to a rolling boil, cover the pan, and boil for about an hour or slightly longer.
You want the peas to be very well-cooked, with the skins coming off. Once the peas are cooked and soft, drain them.
Now - to make the black peas really tasty - do the following with them:
1. Put 250ml / 1 cup of cold, fresh water in a pan, add the peas and bring the water to the boil. Turn the heat down to a high simmer.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable stock / bouillon powder to the peas and also 2 teaspoons of cider vinegar, as well as some salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Allow the peas to stay on a high simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. The peas are ready when there is a small amount of grey-black liquid in the pan, just enough for the peas to be moist but not lots of liquid left.
4. Serve the peas individually in small pots, and sprinkle with salt and vinegar for the traditional way of eating them.
I'm Andrea, and am obsessed with creating fabulous food. After I managed to ditch dieting, the reason Chocolate and Beyond was born, it seemed natural to evolve my site into a foodie blog. More so since I also ditched animal produce to be vegan. Now, I love showing how inventive cruelty-free cooking can be. And sometimes I like to rant, too. I wouldn't be myself otherwise :) x 
My God, I hadn't imagined them after all. I remember eating these with vinegar on Bonfire Night in Rochdale as a kid. I must get hold of some! Thanks for a nostalgic recipe.
Posted by: Hickesy | February 12, 2013 at 06:10 AM
Haha! Hickesy, I used to have black peas absolutely sodden with vinegar! They are such a childhood favourite. Thank you for commenting :)
Posted by: Andrea - Chocolate and Beyond | February 12, 2013 at 08:50 AM
Just bought some black peas from Bury market.... just as I remember, happy days!
Posted by: Claire | February 16, 2013 at 03:19 PM
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Posted by: Hrbal Incense | March 20, 2013 at 04:12 AM
Very strong and healthy diet .
Thanks for the useful information sharing.
Posted by: Buy Spice incense | March 29, 2013 at 07:52 AM
we lancashire lads like the peas with the shell intact and a slight bite to them,, to obtain this salt the peas at soaking stage, also after boiling you should spread out on a baking tray put in the oven 10mins at 140 just to dry off sound as a pound enjoy with salt and vinegar, a nice twist you can add a little chilly powder adds a nice warm twist.
Posted by: keith | March 30, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Thanks for your comment Keith! And those suggestions are great - I will try adding some chilli powder the next time, for sure :)
Posted by: Andrea - Chocolate and Beyond | April 03, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Does anyone know if they are available from Morrisons?
Originally from Bolton, I now live in norfolk but would love to get hold of these again.
Also I have a 70's Sekiden gun which uses these as ammo, happy days.
Posted by: Glyn | April 24, 2013 at 11:34 AM
Thank you for the recipe. My son lives in London now. He was reminiscing about bonfire night and black peas. His girlfriend, who was raised in scarborough, had never heard of them. They're visiting this weekend so I'm going to cook them. I haven't got cider vinegar so I'm going to add a little ginger drink, (non alcoholic). I'll let you know how we get on. Can't wait to be honest!
JW Bury
Posted by: Jeanette | May 01, 2013 at 08:41 PM
Hi Jeanette, thanks for your comment! Adding the ginger drink sounds interesting! Yes, please do let me know how you get along :)
Hi Glyn! Not sure about Morrisons. You'll probably have more luck in a health food shop I think.
Posted by: Andrea - Chocolate and Beyond | May 03, 2013 at 09:40 AM
the best black peas i have tasted where at the fair ground they where made by a family called butterworths from rochdale in lancashire
Posted by: bobby | May 23, 2013 at 04:22 PM
Hi - i'm just experimenting with a few recipes for parched peas since I discovered they're on sale at booths stores. Being a Preston lass I naturally want them to taste just like off the flag market. Not quite there yet, I think I need to boil them for longer, I've just put half my batch in the oven and boiled half in the bouillon etc. different results, both delicious, but still feel like there's something I'm missing to get the flag market taste. Any further thoughts welcome!
Posted by: Janet the Preston lass | June 07, 2013 at 08:38 PM
Hi, I found this via a Google search. I am originally from Lancashire (Wigan)and am struggling to find any suppliers of the "Black peas"
I remember eating them as a kid around the bonfire on November the 5th, come to think of it we also had them around the same smouldering embers of the same bonfire on the 6th,7th and sometimes 8th (we liked our bonfire night).
Anyhow, I am sure we used to get them from our local pet shop but with today's H&S that seems frowned on (non food grade).
If anyone finds a link as to where to purchase them could they please share it here.
Many thanks :-)
J
Posted by: James | September 08, 2013 at 07:13 PM
I love black peas, and love this time of year as I too love to reminisce having them as a child on bonfire night. Theres a butchers on the precinct in Royton Oldham that sells them for a £1 a bag :-)
Sherry. Oldham
Posted by: Sherry | September 14, 2013 at 12:33 PM
I found some in the health shop in Wednesbury, West Midlands, whilst visiting my dad, but that has been over five years ago. The bag was labelled The Health Store. Good luck!
Posted by: June | September 19, 2013 at 03:34 PM
I've just purchased some from a company online called 'Hodmedods' it sells beans and peas.They call them black badgers. I miss them since I no longer live in preston. Gorgeous!
Posted by: Rachel | September 25, 2013 at 01:18 PM
I'm from Rochdale and used to always have black peas on bonfire night, thanks for sharing it brought back great memories!
Posted by: rachel | September 26, 2013 at 05:51 PM
Now live in essex and remember black peas and the bonfire on cronkeyshaw with the fair happy days .can't get them down here think I'll have to get the family to post some down thanks for the memories
Posted by: dave rhodes | September 26, 2013 at 08:29 PM
hi ya,ll does anyone know the calorie intake
signed curios.
Posted by: Dave | October 11, 2013 at 11:50 AM
MUM AND dad found the peas on sale at the sweet stall in wigan market. ;-)
Posted by: James | October 16, 2013 at 01:51 PM
My mother always made black peas and I have been cooking them for 30 years. To make them taste like the fair ground peas, I soak them over night in salted water, bring to boil and then simmer them for a good few hours with a touch of vinegar in the water, let them cool over night till they are really thick, then boil again the next day with more water and vinegar. Serve with salt and more vinegar.
Posted by: Anne-Marie | October 18, 2013 at 10:53 AM
In Farnworth and Bolton black peas should have plenty of juice, 'gravey', and plenty salt and vinegar to taste. In Blackburn they call them
Parched peas, that's because they over boil them and dry most of the juice out of them , the Bolton or Farnworth way is best, give it a try. Can anyone remember a stall dedicated to to likes of Black pease, black puddings etc.On Farnworth Market, it was call 'Saidy mays'
Joe Callaghan farnworth.
Posted by: Joe. Callaghan | October 20, 2013 at 09:49 PM
Anyone who wants to buy black peas, Morrissons are selling 1 kilo bags at I think £2 I bought mine in Tyldesley
They are supplied by -
Whitworths Ltd
Orchard House
Irlingborough
Northants
NN9 5DB
Hope this is useful.
Posted by: John Thompson | October 22, 2013 at 05:56 PM
Live in Cheshire now but originally from Oldham.Bought lots at £1.50 a bag from a small Asian run food shop on a visit back to Oldham last week.Shop location is just higher up than the Snipe Inn pub which is just opp.Oldham inside market.The guy told me they were harder to come by this year and so were 50p dearer than the previous year.I found a much smaller bag on the inside market for about a £1.00 but walked away.I bought 4 bags so spent £6.00 on them but i need to educate these Cheshire folk.
Posted by: Christine | October 25, 2013 at 12:36 AM
I live in Preston and we have just got some black peas for a get together and we got them from Preston Market stalls, check your markets to buy them.
Posted by: Pauline | October 25, 2013 at 09:01 AM
Love Love black pease, ive bought some yesterday from Bolton
Market, the inside were the fruit and veg stalls are.
Sharon WigAN.
Posted by: SHARON FISHER | October 25, 2013 at 09:04 AM
I have just got some from morrisons in tyldsley £1 a bag and there now in the pan having a good bath..
Posted by: jason | October 25, 2013 at 07:20 PM
Just made some,I am coming up 80yrs, had them from being a lad, them days many shops sold them, especially the newsagents,I just soak them overnight, with a spoonful of bicarbonate soda, then boil them up the day after, and tonight I will have some round the t.v.with a dash of salt and vinegar I just love the water the are made in,and finish off with a nightcap.
Posted by: brian | October 28, 2013 at 03:07 PM
I'm from Rochdale and like many of the other people who have commented black peas remind me of my childhood. This time of the year coming up to Bonfire night wouldn't be right if there were no black peas. I have vivid memories of my grandma making them for us. I was always taught not to add salt when boiling them up as it would make the skins go tough. There always seem to be loads of peas so I often put them in separate portion sized containers in my freezer to save for a later date when they aren't readily available.
Market stalls are always a good source for finding the peas
but a lot of the large supermarket chains are selling them in the Lancashire towns where they are popular. I have seen them available in Asda, Morrisons and Tescos.It never ceases to amze me how regional a delicacy they are. I always thought everyone had black peas on bonfire night until I moved to Ripon in North Yorkshire to study. I remember asking my mum to bring me a bag up when she visited so I could 'convert' my flatmates.
Posted by: Jane | October 29, 2013 at 09:23 AM
Just put them in the pan, be ready tomorrow. Got mine from Gordon Riggs in rochdale. Can't wait :p
Posted by: Kay | October 29, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Serve black peas in bisto instant gravy and mint sauce with vinegar delicious !!!
Posted by: Foxy lady | October 29, 2013 at 09:02 PM
well,
here we have it . maple peas. fascinating.
Posted by: Carl Selby | October 30, 2013 at 10:22 PM
Just bought my supply of black peas from local butchers shop on Royton precinct. Can't wait to devour them with lashings of vinegar. I steep mine overnight with barcarbonated soda, rinse well, cover with fresh water add salt and bring to a rapid boil,then rolling boil for approx 1hr. Serve nice and hot with lots of vinegar. ENJOY!!!!
Posted by: Debbie Moulton Royton Oldham | October 31, 2013 at 02:54 PM
Bought a bag today in Rochdale market at delicatessen stall 70p .Soaking them now. Margaret
Posted by: Margaret | November 01, 2013 at 03:16 AM
Apparently they are Also known as pidgeon peas and can be bought in any pet food store xxx
Posted by: Kate | November 01, 2013 at 01:18 PM
we just got the peas on Accrington market.Albert
Posted by: Albert gorton | November 02, 2013 at 07:04 AM
dontcha just love 'em! Thanks for the reminder recipe, mine are on the boil as I type! (From a shaw lass)
Posted by: Rhona | November 02, 2013 at 09:10 AM
Tesco in Clitheroe is selling 1 kg for £1 at the moment!
Posted by: Mrs T | November 02, 2013 at 09:01 PM
Accrington black peas for those of you that can remember back to the late 50s early 60s. My mum always had a large pan of black peas cooked for bonfire night nieghbours all came for mums peas we had bonfires in the back sreet and dad handled the fireworks if we could afford any.Mum used to buy her peas on a stall on Accrington market.I now live in Sussex but mums tradition for black peas lives on.I get my peas from Country Products Unit 6 Centre Park Tockwith North Yorkshire YO267QF TEL 01423 358858 mail order.
soak peas in large pan 1/2 teaspoon of bicarb per 500ml added to water soak for about 24 hours, drain, rinse put back in pan with a Ham/Gammon Knuckle (remove thick fat and wash salt of before cooking cover contents with fresh water NO SALT or the peas might not soften bring to boil then simmer for about 2 hours or untill ready. laddel out a mug full add seasoning if wanted or just vinegar don,t forget to invite friends and nieghbours enjoy.Bon appetit Steve Pilkington
Posted by: Steve Pilkington | November 02, 2013 at 10:02 PM
I got a bag from Leigh Market for £1.00 they are made now and taste delicious
Posted by: Brenda Roberts | November 04, 2013 at 11:23 AM
they are now selling them in aldi might just be a bonfire treat not seen them before 1/5/13
Posted by: barry | November 04, 2013 at 02:01 PM
Steve since this is a vegan site I can't recommend using a dead pig to make the peas, I'm afraid! But I'm very appreciative of people's input. Happy to see so many local people are making black peas for bonfire night!
Posted by: Andrea | November 05, 2013 at 09:17 AM
Rochdale lass here! Black peas have been soaking all night and we're about to slow cook them :) then bring on the vinegar! Have a great bonfire night everyone.
Posted by: Suzie | November 05, 2013 at 11:40 AM
I now live in Canada, and got my sister to bring some over for me during a recent visit, I want to give them a whirl for old times sake! I used to love them on bonfire night and also walking around Bury Market. My sister got them at the pet store, upon hearing this my Canadian family are even more reluctant to try them than they were when hearing the name Black Peas. Wish me luck, hope they taste like my Mom's did!
Posted by: Amanda Nichols | November 11, 2013 at 12:56 AM
I've grown up eating them in Preston Lancashire, Called Parch Peas. If you soak them over night in bicarbinated soda they don't need as much cooking time but still taste great but the vinegar and salt is a must.
Posted by: Joanne | November 13, 2013 at 05:01 PM
Recently I bought a variety of small tins of beans in Morrisons as I am on a soup thing at the mo. One of the tins had this really reminiscent taste but I couldn't place it. I knew it was from when I lived in Bury as a child. I have pinned it down to Black peas, and it is the juice or gravy that reminded me. So, thanks to all the posts here and I am on the hunt for the elusive peas. I'll try Morrisons in Todmorden and then the pet shops!!!
Posted by: Joan B. | November 22, 2013 at 05:04 PM
My good lady's great uncle was a legend in Rochdale with his blck pea bell and tricycle. Take a look at this obituary.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/final-round-for-black-pea-man-1097473
Ps currently steeping the peas.
Posted by: Leesugden | November 29, 2013 at 11:10 AM
I'd never realised these were a Lancashire thing, I just got one heck of a craving for them. I'm going have to pay a visit back home this year just to stock up on them.
Now, if only I could find a source of "proper" meat pies as well...nirvana!
Posted by: Lee | January 04, 2014 at 03:02 PM
Best place to get the bags of dried black peas is the local markets. All the indoor markets round Lancashire sell them. Even seen them on the most unlikely (sweet!!!) stalls. Must be cheaper than health food shops surely.
Posted by: Ellie Green | January 10, 2014 at 01:12 PM
i got my black peas from tesco in cheadle and didsbury. Husband added herbs and a dash of sour pomegranate juice (to turn it into his persian childhood recipe ). Lovely, but it doesnt beat the cone of peas I had as a lass on bonfire night in Bolton. Im out to show him how its really done.
Posted by: raz | January 11, 2014 at 10:21 PM
I found them at Tesco, in the "Ethnic" isle.
Posted by: Kevin Wood | January 18, 2014 at 06:06 PM
I lived in Bolton as a child and well remember treacle toffee, and black pea soup, on Guy Fawkes night. Always a community treat, as were the bonfire,the guy, and the fireworks. The peas were definitely a soup, not a dry dish. One year, having newly redone her kitchen mum used the pressure cooker for the peas. Peas or shells clogged the pressure weight and the relief valve, ending in a mini explosion. Newly redone kitchen got newly redone again.
Posted by: Peter Murray | January 20, 2014 at 08:23 AM
I am from Rochdale and we used to have a 'black pea' man who used to drive down the street on a motorbike with a side car containing a Bain Marie with a bug supply of black peas. He used to ring a bell and everyone used to go to him with empty bowls to fill. I love my Rochdale roots !
Posted by: Debra | February 01, 2014 at 11:45 AM
Being a Yorkshire boy who's uncle Jim spent a large part part of his adult life living as a sort of minister trying to pass on some education and culture to the local Lancashire people I spent quite some time in bury in which I found a liking for black peas,can anyone tell me where I can buy some on line please ? I now live in deepest darkest wales trying to do much the same as uncle Jim, educate and culture the local celts ,it's a thankless task but hey someone has to do it, and how to cook them would help. Thanks
Posted by: Paultherat | February 02, 2014 at 07:52 PM
I love my Rochdale roots too even though I didn' move to Edmund St until I was 4 years old. We moved away when I was 11 in 1957. The last 2 Augusts I have been back to the town and found Black peas on sale on a stall in Yorkshire St.
Posted by: David Canvin | March 28, 2014 at 03:10 PM
Bought some today at Tesco in Prestwich, £1.99 a Kg. My first memory of buying black peas in Radcliffe was ammunition for my pea shooter, got mine soaking now, after soaking overnight, rinsing, how long should I cook them for in a pressure cooker?
Posted by: Jason | April 01, 2014 at 08:31 PM
As an expat, I remember going to my uncles house in Rochdale. My favourite thing was to go to the fish shop and get fish and chips for tea. We also had the black peas which I thought were so delicious. I used to wonder why my mother never made them. We lived in Yorkshire just over the moors from Rochdale and they were never available at the fish shop there. As you say they are a Lancashire 'thing'.
I have found some over here in America and so now I can remake this childhood favorite. Thanks for sharing. Stella.
Posted by: Stella Bottoms | May 06, 2014 at 02:59 PM
Have been telling my Australian friends for decades about Black Peas on Guy Fawkes and could not buy them in OZ until recently. They are called "Dun Peas" or "Maple Peas" which are a better quality if you can get them. I sourced them in Canberra (live in Sydney) at a pet shop. They are used in OZ to feed pigeons. I can once again have them regularly instead of having to wait for my infrequent trips to Bolton in the UK. Like most of your other comments they evoke happy memories. I loved the Manchester Evening News story of the Black Pea Man.
Posted by: Lynn | June 10, 2014 at 12:42 AM
im from Rochdale originally now live in perth Australia just come back from the uk went to bury market and had the best black peas would love to know where to purchase them in perth
Posted by: clint rowson | September 07, 2014 at 07:50 AM
Thanks all for the memories, there was nowt like black peas and treacle toffee for bonfire night. If you still live in Greater Mcr I've discovered that Greenhalgh's bakers are doing pots of ready made !
Posted by: Gill Heppy | October 06, 2014 at 09:03 AM
Bonfire nights as a kid with black peas withloads of juice and vinegar, parkin and spuds cooked in the hot embers until black on the outside but fluffy inside...brilliant. Just bought two 0.8kilo (2lb) bags from the butchers on Huddersfield Road, Newhey at £1.30 a bag. Taking em back to Scotland with me. Thanks for the recipe.
Posted by: colin williams | October 07, 2014 at 04:51 PM
I am a Lancashire lass (Rochdale) living in Yorkshire :-o and no one knew what I was talking about when I asked why no black peas were served on Bonfire Night. They thought I was a little bit strange when I told them you have them in little cups and cover them with vinegar. As if a Lancashire girl living in Yorkshire wasn't strange enough now they thought I was mental. Ha to all the non believers. This stuff is the dog's ....... :-D I WILL be making some this year and carrying on the tradition for my kids.
Posted by: Sarra Simpson | October 10, 2014 at 07:24 AM
Oldham indoor market. 99p a bag. Shop around cos some bags look bigger than others. Found 2 stalls selling them.
Posted by: Phila | November 11, 2014 at 02:54 PM
I can remember going to the fair at Hollingworth Lake on the Easter weekend. One of the shops there sold black peas in a cup. That was the only time of the year we used to eat them and I think I looked forward to that more than the fair
Posted by: Howard Sutcliffe | November 17, 2014 at 11:16 AM
I really like this Black peas.taste of it really good.receipe of this i also shared with my friends...
Posted by: Carlos Lorence | November 17, 2014 at 11:39 AM
I'm from the Northeast, so hadn't heard of black peas (pease pudding here). But I've now been introduced to them via work colleagues in the Northwest. I've now cooked them for the first time and loved them!
Posted by: Gary | December 25, 2014 at 09:17 PM
I lived in Stalybridge, and we only had Black Peas when the Wakes was on - the Butterworths Stall had huge cauldrons of them and served them in pottery mugs. I live on the coast in West Sussex now and get the peas from asian food shops, but try as I will - I cannot recreate the taste of the Butterworths peas. Oh and my wife thinks I am strange for eating them.
Posted by: Alf Mellor | January 09, 2015 at 04:37 PM
In the black country we call them grey peas! and are served with bacon bits cooked into them but as i am now vegetarian,the bacon is out so i am going to try them as you have them in Lancashire,my wife was born in Blackburn so it feels ok
Posted by: paddy | June 02, 2015 at 07:38 PM
Great reading every bodies comments on here and reminiscing. Just bought a kilo off ebay for just over a fiver plenty for sale as pet food apparently very good pigeon LOL. Lived in bradford for over 20 years. And never seem them once, since leaving oldham in my 20's. So definitely a regional thing.
Posted by: Julian | August 02, 2015 at 10:20 PM
I'm a lancahire born lad (1957) originally from Rochdale but now lived in Peterborough. I have fond memories of my mum and dad cooking them in a pressure cooker for Bonfire night where they then had enough to feed the whole street! There was one occasion when they over filled the pressure cooker and the black peas ended up blasted all over the kitchen ceiling! The best ones were always at the fair in Rochdale served in a tea-cup, someone told me that their secret ingredient was to crumble an oxo cube into them just as they are nearly finished cooking.
I bought some recently in a pet shop, I saw them and thought they look like black peas they were labelled "Maple peas" Just about to cook them. All I need now is some Parkin and treacle toffee!!
Posted by: Mark | August 26, 2015 at 08:43 PM
Just bought 2 kilos of pigeon peas at a shop in Notting Hill..£3-50p...god nows how many parched peas I can make with 2 kilos of dried peas? Doubt anyone in Notting Hill knows owt about 'em.
Posted by: Guido | September 06, 2015 at 11:11 AM
I was told by our local pet shop that the ones they sell are not "food grade" so it put me off using them for myself.
Bought some this year (2015) from a market stall and was enjoying them until ... one lot I was about to soak had a tiny black beetle on the rim of the container, trying to get out. I squished it with some K Roll and proceeded to wash and then soak the peas. Next morning there was another black beetle floating on the top of the jug they were soaking in. Washed them off again and put them in a washing up bowl so they could be spread out and we could look for beetles - nothing. Put them in a pan and one came up to the top as the water heated up. Put me off so I ditched every single black pea I had.
Have tried ringing all the supermarkets for the packaged variety (Haven was the last one I bought pre-packaged) but nothing. One supermarket informed me that the company they normally got them from had "gone bust". Maybe that accounts for my not finding any.
Posted by: Anna | November 03, 2015 at 03:13 PM
I now live in Wimbledon,My grandma sent me mine in the post from Leigh Market. You can get them off Ebay. I'm cooking mine in Guinness right now lol. All I need now is Bonfire Toffee and these Southerners can experience a proper Bonfire Night. Thanks for the recipe btw.
Posted by: Ed | November 04, 2015 at 08:27 PM
I'm originally from Rochdale now living in St Anne's they locals have never heard of them cooking mine now
Posted by: Alan | November 05, 2015 at 12:50 PM
i live in Bolton and have always cooked black peas for Nov 5th.i have slow cooked some lamb bones and used the water after skimming off the excess fat to cook the soaked peas in .Plenty vinegar and salt to eat.
delicious and not too soggy.
Ang
Posted by: Angela | November 05, 2015 at 04:10 PM
I am from Turf Hill, Rochdale but now live in Australia, for years every FA Cup Final night we used to have an FA party, along with Potato Pie I used to cook Black Pea's and some of the Aussies loved them. I would buy them from the Pet Food suppliers.
Ron The Pom
Posted by: Ron Loversidge | November 05, 2015 at 11:46 PM
I live in Wigan and always have black peas on 'bommy neet'. Polished last ones off last night and just got some more on the boil. Cook 'em looooong and with plenty of juice and vinegar. Usually got mine from Wigan market but the stall had shut down. Panic set in but found them at fruit and veg shop opposite Half way House in Pemb.
Posted by: Allan - Wigan | November 07, 2015 at 12:39 PM
As a Midland chap can I introduce you to 'Grey Paes' which is another name for the maple.
Soak them for 24 hours - them simmer for a few more - then add nothing else but lots of bacon pieces. Simmer for another hour (about).
That's all apart apart from maybe an Oxo cube to taste. Oh, and some fresh crusty bread, of course.
Bloomin' delicious!
[any leftovers taste even better the following day]
Posted by: Paul David | December 12, 2015 at 03:39 PM
Just ate the last of my black peas, My Mother used to help at the black pea stall on the Tyldesley wakes week, in the 50s and 60s she wrote down the Recipe try it, Bag of Black Peas,wash, then soak over night with 2 table spoons of Bicarbonate of soda,after the soak, wash again, put in pan add boiling water, add salt and vinegar to taste, wait till mushy, then enjoy.
Posted by: Malc Whalley | December 17, 2015 at 12:05 AM
anyone looking for maple peas to buy... buy from bryn corn suplies at bryn road ashton-in-makerfield just off the A58 at at ashton
Posted by: chris | January 12, 2016 at 07:03 PM
I got here by googling for a recipe. I found black peas in the pantry, from a previous trip back home. Bought them from Bury market. I remember that stall on Farnworth market. I went to the grammar school there in the early fifties. I lived in Little Hulton. I married, moved to Atherton and then to Montreal, finally ended up here on the Maine mid-coast. We go back on nostalgia trips almost every year, always looking for reminders of the old days. We always had parkin, treacle toffee and potato pie on bonfire night.
Thanks, Andrea I read this whole blog and loved every minute of it! Got the recipe too! The black peas are soaking.
Posted by: Terry Bleakley | April 07, 2016 at 09:34 PM
now available to buy in Rochdale at the new fruit and veg shop on Yorkshire Street near the entrance the wheatsheaf centre. :-) can't wait to cook them up!!
Posted by: teddy | October 17, 2016 at 09:19 AM
I'm originally from Rochdale and now live in Brisbane, a friend has just brought some black peas over ready for the festivities, can't wait to cook these up 😋
Posted by: Gaynor | October 26, 2016 at 10:40 AM
Bought them from Bury Market this week...
Posted by: Bolton Lass | October 27, 2016 at 09:34 PM
Anyone know how long they keep once cooked and best way to store
Posted by: Mags | October 28, 2016 at 02:32 PM
I've no way of getting back up to Milnrow before bonfire night and wanted to have a go at making some black peas, I ordered some Maple Peas from eBay the other night as I couldn't find any others at the time, are these suitable? Think they're for carp fishing but surely once they've been cooked they should be fine if they're the right pea?
Posted by: Craig | November 01, 2016 at 04:12 AM
I live in Leeds, West Yorkshire (originally from Darwen, near Blackburn) I was just thinking about what we used to eat around bonfire night….I mentioned black peas to a Yorkshire colleague and he had no idea about them. I had to do a google search to prove I wasn’t going mad and came across this site so thanks and I will have to have a look on the market when I’m next over the other side of the Pennines!
Posted by: Peter | November 04, 2016 at 03:27 PM
Hi, got mine soaking as l write.Anybody in the Rochdale area looking for black peas go to Gordon Riggs garden centre.I was pointed in that direction by a member of staff from Morrison's.That was after going to Sainsbury's and Tesco.They better be good!!!!!!
Posted by: Carl | November 05, 2016 at 09:13 AM
In the Midlands we call them grey peas and we cook the with bacon bits.
Posted by: MissyHarvey | November 05, 2016 at 03:54 PM
I'm making some as I'm typing for tonight's bonfire a childhood favourite and always will be ja
Posted by: Jackie | November 05, 2017 at 02:43 PM
Thanks for the bacon comment
I'm going to try cooking them with knorr pea and ham stock cube
HOW is this amazing food not stocked in every supermarket?
Lancashire's best kept secret
Posted by: Jo | December 02, 2017 at 03:14 PM
i used to remember a van that came to haslingden high school in the early 80's that sold black peas - my work colleagues think i have made this up. i used to love them.
Posted by: Ian Bell | December 05, 2017 at 01:38 PM
I was brought up in Regent Street (No 39) in the 50's and told my children about the black pea man on his tricycle shouting "black peas" and ringing his bell on a Tuesday evening. I visited Rochdale in the late 80's with my fiance and bought black peas from Bury Market to cook when we returned to Poole. Not sure she was too impressed but would love to get hold of some to cook for this years bonfire night for my 2 boys. We live in St Austell so it would be a change from pasties!!!!
Posted by: David Needham | January 01, 2018 at 05:08 PM
I am old enough to remember the barrow man coming around the streets in Preston during the war and selling a me a penny worth of parched peas or penny winkles.
Posted by: Dawn Reverie Austin | January 04, 2018 at 11:42 AM
I am originally from Atherton ( Bent ) now living in sunny Leicester, and I am craving some proper black peas, I always remember as a kid whenever the wakes(Fair)came to town we would go to Butterworths black pea saloon, I have read all the posts and the recipes, however when I last made them I would add some HP sauce and worcestershire sauce and they where as near to the Butterworths I remember. I could jut eat a pan full
Posted by: Steve Williams | April 15, 2018 at 07:08 PM
I remember the Blackpea man arriving on a Friday night in spotland Rochdale we tuck our own bowls to buy from him love them but struggling to get them here in Rochdale Lancashire
Posted by: Kathleen Rush | November 01, 2019 at 11:25 AM
Just read all the comments..fascinating!
I've soaked my black peas from Bury Market overnight, added a little bicarb of soda and now ready to heat on the hob in sunny Walkden.
Thanks for all the info.
Posted by: Chris Nuttall | November 05, 2019 at 08:34 AM
Pet shop in Tyldesley and leigh market both sell black peas.
Posted by: Lynn | November 05, 2019 at 09:31 AM
Village Pet Store Little Lever Bolton will be selling Black peas on line, so watch out in the next few days by Giving us a like on our Facebook page.
Posted by: Shenaz Bargit | November 05, 2019 at 06:08 PM
https://hodmedods.co.uk/products/black-badger-carlin-pea
British grown, available dried, or, ready-cooked in tins.
Brilliant company, also gives recipes using its products.
Posted by: K. J. Wood | November 03, 2023 at 02:52 PM