Vicia faba, also known in the culinary sense as the broad bean, fava bean, or faba bean, is a ... 1 Description; 2 History and Cultivation; 3 Pests and diseases; 4 Nutrition; 5 Health concerns. 5.1 Toxicity ... The beans can be fried, causing the skin to split open, and then salted and/or spiced to produce a savory, crunchy snack.