Gram flour, also known as garbanzo bean flour, chickpea flour, or besan, is a pulse flour made from ground chickpeas. Used in many countries, it is a staple ingredient in Indian, Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi cuisines. Gram flour can be made from either raw chickpeas or roasted chickpeas. The roasted variety is more flavourful, while the raw variety has a slightly bitter taste.In the form of a paste with water or yogurt, it is also popular as a facial exfoliant in the Indian subcontinent.