Good Housekeeping

November 17, 2008
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Taste Test: Classic Flavor Hummus Dip
Our volunteers tested 10 different samples of classic flavor hummus

By Samantha Seneviratne

The word means chickpea in Arabic, but to us, it’s a luscious Middle Eastern dip. Until the mid-1990s, hummus was unfamiliar to many Americans; now it’s a multimillion-dollar industry. No wonder — made nutty and tangy by its blend of chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon, hummus is perfect as a snack or as part of a meal. Bonus: It’s low in saturated fat, full of fiber, and rich in protein. We found countless variations, from horseradish to chipotle. To keep it simple, we stuck to the classic flavor of five national brands. Our volunteers tried 10 different samples — while some left tasters complaining of “sour” flavors and “pasty” textures, the winners were so good, we couldn’t stop eating. Dig into these results.

First place: Two Sabra varieties, Chunky Hummus and Hummus & Tahini, tied for top billing (despite their names, these are Sabra’s “basic” versions). What split the vote was texture: Some tasters went for creamy, while others preferred chunky. Volunteers found both types “bright” and “flavorful,” with the natural tastes of chickpea and sesame shining through.

Honorable mention: Samplers also enjoyed Tribe All Natural Classic Hummus. They tagged this brand as earthy with “great tang” (which makes sense, since lemon is second on the list of ingredients). If you love a tahini-rich hummus with some zip, consider joining this Tribe.