The Hummus Taste Test: We Tried 7 Brands and Here’s Our Favorite

There’s no denying that creamy chickpea dip (known as hummus or hommus!) is downright delicious. Whether we’re craving a savory afternoon snack or packing for a picnic in the park, hummus and pita chips is practically a universal favorite.

In what was one of our most favorite taste tests yet, staffers in our office tried seven national brands of traditional hummus. Keep reading to find our thoughts on all seven brands, as well as our most favorite hummus of the bunch.

I selected a variety of well-known national brands of classic-flavored hummus (no roasted garlic, no red pepper hummus — just the traditional stuff) that can be found at most grocery stores across the country. I got them by visiting three major grocery stores in New York City.

I purchased seven varieties of classic hummus, spooned it from the container into a clear, plastic cup and assigned each one a letter. I then lined the cups up on a table. Of course we needed pita chips to go along with the dip; I set those out in two bowls at each end of the table.

As people dunked their pita chips into each and every hummus, I asked everyone in the office to give me their thoughts on all seven brands.

At first, it seemed like this would be the toughest taste test we’ve done. Unlike some of the other tests, where there were distinct visual differences that differentiated the lineup, all seven types of hummus looked nearly identical. There were some textural differences, but they were minor. Everyone was curious (and maybe a little nervous) about how much the tastes would actually vary from brand to brand.

Here’s the rundown of what our tasters had to say about each brand of hummus they tasted, in alphabetical order.

There are a few brands of hummus I frequently buy, and this is one of them. The taste testers, however, were split on this one. While some people found the taste to be strong and a little too bold, others felt it was a little bland and were looking for something more. “Too bold, almost garlicky,” stated one taster, who had a very different impression from another tester, who felt it was, “Boring and bland. Needs some olive oil or something to kick it up.”

But the homemade taste stood out. Another tester’s impression: “Tastes homemade. Basically all chickpeas.”

A lot of tasters commented that this hummus seemed the most natural to them. It had good flavor, while not standing out as too bold or too bland. And even though this hummus has a smooth taste, it also has great texture. “Mmm perfectly creamy,” and “Tastes the most natural,” were comments we heard.

Sabra is a widely sold, popular brand of hummus — and our test only reinforced that. Just about all the tasters felt it was easily identifiable, from its thicker, chunkier consistency to its distinct taste. “Good flavor, it’s my favorite,” said one taster, among many who instantly identified the brand.

The name doesn’t lie. Off the bat, this hummus looked noticeably smoother than all the other brands. It was almost velvety. Flavor-wise, this one sort of hid in the crowd; it didn’t have much that made it stand out. As one taster said, “It’s bland, but fine.”

It was creamy for sure, but it lacked that little extra something that would have set it apart from the group. If you’re easing your way into hummus and aren’t quite sure yet, this mild choice could be the one for you.

One taste tester who eats Tribe hummus on a regular basis was able to identify it with her first taste. Talk about impressive taste buds! This hummus had a really well-balanced flavor that everyone enjoyed. “Tastes like there’s a lot of tahini,” one officemate stated.

The first time I tried Whole Foods hummus a few months ago, I thought it was a fluke that I got a batch that happened to be especially lemony. There was a punchy citrus flavor, and while it was strong, it wasn’t overwhelming. Comments included, “Very citrusy!” and “Very lemony!”

I learned with the taste test that it was no fluke. Whole Foods brand hummus has a fresh citrus presence that’s carried through every bite. So if citrus is your thing, this one could be for you.

While all of these brands came out well in our taste tests, one stood up as the favorite.

Shopping for hummus to include in the taste test was the first time I came across this brand. I thought for sure someone at the office would recognize it, but none of the tasters had seen it before either. So not only was this brand the newcomer of the lineup, it was also the crowd favorite.

The taste testers almost unanimously chose this hummus, which is made by a small New Hampshire food company, as their favorite. While the texture didn’t seem too different from the other brands, the flavor was in a league all its own.

Some of the tasters described this hummus as being buttery and smooth; certainly not something you hear very often when it comes to hummus. It was that combined with its super-creamy, rich taste that won everyone over.

• So good — game over!
• It’s kind of creamy, like it has mayo.
• Yum, so buttery. Looks like Nestle Tollhouse cookie dough before you add the chocolate chips.
• This one is buttery. This is amazing.

Do you have a favorite hummus among the brands we tried? Any brand we missed that we have to try? Let us know in the comments!