 Carlin peas, also known as carling, maple, brown or pigeon peas (but distinct from the tropical pigeon pea "Cajanus cajan"), and black or grey badgers, are small, hard brown peas, first recorded during Elizabethan times.It has been suggested that the name "Carlin" comes from "Carling Sunday" or "Care Sunday" after the population of Newcastle were saved from starvation in a siege of 1327 or 1644 when a ship arrived from Norway with a cargo of these peas on that day.They are classed as a heritage or heirloom variety, often referred to as the medieval mushy pea.