The product sold as black lentils is usually the whole urad bean, whereas the split bean (the interior being white) is called ulunthu in tamil, minumulu in telugu,"'uddu"' in kannada, urad dal in hindi, or white lentils. Black gram originated in india, where it has been in cultivation from ancient times and is one of the most highly prized pulses of india and pakistan.

The product sold as black lentils is usually the whole urad bean, whereas the split bean (the interior being white) is called ulunthu in tamil, minumulu in telugu,"'uddu"' in kannada, urad dal in hindi, or white lentils. Black gram originated in india, where it has been in cultivation from ancient times and is one of the most highly prized pulses of india and pakistan.