Mummy Peas

It's true that peas were found in Tutakhamun's tomb, but an urban myth that they were viable. There was massive excitement caused by the discovery of the tomb in 1922, and it sparked a craze for all things Egyptian. Some seed producers jumped on the bandwaggon, offering 'mummy peas', strains which supposedly originated fom the tomb. I've read that some Egyptians also got in on the act, 'discovering' peas as they unrolled mummies before their credulous clients.

The story is complicated by the fact that a veriety known as 'Tutankhamun' was grown by Lord Caernavon, who financed the dig, or more likely by his head gardener. It is still around, and it's the one from HSL which has been referred to. It has no connection with the tomb. There's also a variety called 'King Tut', which could be one of the original varieties which were claimed to be from the tomb. Then there is at least one variety of 'mummy pea' out there, again probably claimed to have been from the tomb.

I was a newspaper article only last week which was still propagating the myth.