Old French Purple Fava 
Vicia faba
            We acquired this rare 1600s French variety under the name Fève violette from the late fava collector Naél Aziz of Tours.  The plants are robust up to 30 inches tall with pods producing 3 to 4 seeds each.  When young and used as shelling favas, the beans are green, but as they mature, they ripen purple or tinged with violet.  Excellent fresh or as a dry bean for duck cassoulet.  Due to oppressive EU seed regulations, this variety is nearly extinct in France.  20 seeds $6.00