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Lifestyle

The Unofficial Ranking of Store-Bought Hummus

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at U Mich chapter.

Hummus—a vegan’s best friend, a party’s perfect snack, a sandwich’s unique spread—whatever it is to you, I think we can all agree it’s kind of the GOAT. So many food companies have picked up on this hype, and now I’m sure you can find a wall full of hummus varieties on display at your grocery store. But, which of these should you be using for all of your spreading, dipping, and scooping?

hummus milk dairy product
Julia Lauer

By selecting (mostly) plain flavors, my roommates and I tasted these 9 popular hummus labels and picked apart their taste and texture. So, behold the (un)official ranking of store-bought hummus brands. Did your go-to make the cut? 

9. Oasis Original Hommus 

hummus sweet italian dressing
Julia Lauer

I’m sorry, but Oasis is number 9 in this ranking and number -1,000,000 in my heart. This hommus literally split when we dipped in it (imagine a super dry, natural nut butter texture), and it tasted spoiled enough that I had to double check the expiration date. Not worth the money. 

8. Eat Well Embrace Life Tuscan White Bean Hummus

hummus dairy product cake
Julia Lauer

So number 8 didn’t taste expired so it already had the upper hand when compared to our pal, Oasis, but this “hummus” was like a step-brother of the family. With the primary ingredient being white beans rather than chickpeas, this tasted more like refried beans. Verdict? Not a bad addition to a DIY Taco Bell Double Decker, but not hummus. 

7. Eat Well Embrace Life Edamame Hummus 

Hummus milk cheese
Julia Lauer

Again, Eat Well Embrace Life is all for innovating new types of hummus. You know the salted edamame at sushi restaurants? This edamame hummus = that. It’s a tasty dip but not gonna be the best shmear for your falafel.  

6. Sabra Classic Hummus

hummus cream sweet
Julia Lauer

Sabra hasn’t been on my radar since the listeria recall, and when compared to the rest of these hummus flavors, I’m honestly not jumping with excitement to re-introduce this brand. The grittier texture and more artificial taste places Sabra pretty low in the rankings—you can do better. 

5. Private Selection Traditional Hummus 

hummus beer
Julia Lauer

We really tasted the privately selected thyme and oregano seasoning here, so this hummus would be ideal if you’re looking for more of a herby, flavorful dip. But since it didn’t taste as authentic as the other flavors tested, fifth place is where Private Selection shall remain. 

4. Cedar’s Original Hommus 

hummus coffee spread
Julia Lauer

With a texture so smooth and creamy, Cedar’s nearly medaled in this competition, but they fell short in the lack of flavor. We loved the crunch factor that the sesame seed topping brought to the taste-test table, but overall, Cedar’s probs will be too bland for you too. 

3. Whole Foods Original Hummus

hummus coffee chocolate
Julia Lauer

So personally, this hummus would’ve been my number one, hands down, but my ranking squad thought otherwise. The lemon and tahini flavors really come through, making this hummus have a pretty strong taste. With the same smooth consistency as our second and first choices, this pick comes down to personal preference. Do you like sucking on lemons like me? Yes = here’s your winner. No = keep reading. 

2. Garden Fresh Natural Original Hummus

hummus dairy product milk
Julia Lauer

Like our number 1 and 3 choices, Garden Fresh Natural is totally worth the money. The flavor is less intense than 1 and 3, but it’s bold enough to maintain the purely chickpea integrity without being bland. Also, since Garden Fresh Natural double-whips their hummus, the fluffy, creamy texture is incomparable to the lower ranked hummus brands (sorry number 9).  

1. Trader Joe’s Organic Hummus 

hummus tea coffee
Julia Lauer

And Joe does it again! From their abundant vegan options, to their famous chocolates, to even their surprising beauty products, Trader Joe’s consistently kills the food scene. This crowd-favorite hummus is creamy, garlicy, balanced, and the epitome of quality store-bought dip. 

hummus vegetable soup
Julia Lauer

So honestly, you might be doubting this ranking—how different could all of these hummus brands taste…it’s just hummus, right? I was a bit skeptical too, but when pinned up against each other, these hummus truly show their different colors. Try these brands to decide for yourself, but just promise me you won’t waste your money on number 9. I’ve got enough hummus for life now, so I’ll send you mine.