Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, are the main ingredient of hummus. They are one of the earliest cultivated legumes, originating from the Middle East.
We focus on sourcing our entire garbanzo bean supply domestically. As the main ingredient of hummus, it is important to maintain high quality with the crop through developed partnerships with our farmers. We get to see the beans in all stages from planting, to harvest, to sorting and finally cooking. Our partners work to create a sustainable growing season, especially with our nation’s water concerns — did you know that garbanzo beans are one of the least water demanding crops grown in the US? To harvest the beans, our partners don’t use chemicals, but instead allow the plant to naturally dry out in the sun. This allows the crop to be pure and resemble what you would grow yourself!
A Look at Hummus Ingredients:
The traditional ingredients of hummus include cooked garbanzo beans mixed with tahini, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt.
Garbanzo Beans
The main ingredient of hummus is garbanzo beans. These beans are known by many different names all over the world. Other names include chickpeas, bengal grams, egyptian peas, ceci beans and kabuli chana. They are an agricultural wonder, restoring depleted soil nutrients while producing a valuable crop. Their deep root systems help to prevent erosion, and the plant even has a natural insecticide in its leaves to keep bugs away!
Tahini
Tahini is made from sesame seeds that are soaked in water and then crushed to separate the bran from the kernels. The crushed seeds are then soaked in salt water, causing the bran to sink. The floating kernels are skimmed off the surface, toasted, and ground to produce a paste. This is one of the most crucial ingredients of hummus.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Of equal importance in the ingredients of hummus is olive oil. Olive oil is quite simply the oil obtained from the fruit of an olive tree. However, there is a large difference between the way olive oil and extra virgin olive oil is extracted. Because of the way that extra virgin olive oil is processed, it retains more olive taste and has a lower level of oleic acid than other oil varieties. The amount of free oleic acid in olive oil indicates the extent to which fat has broken down into fatty acids. Other oil varieties also lack the important antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that make extra-virgin olive oil so beneficial.
Garlic
Garlic is one of the earliest recorded plants used by humans for its medicinal properties and for the treatment of disease. It contains a potent medicinal compound called Allicin, believed to have therapeutic effects. Garlic is in the Allium (onion) family, along with shallots, onions and leeks. This important part of humus ingredients adds a wonderful layer of flavor.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is high in Vitamin C and is a natural preservative. It lends a light, fresh flavor to hummus. Lemon lightens the flavor of the other hummus ingredients, and brings a delicious tanginess to it.
Sea Salt
Sea salt is produced from the evaporation of seawater, rather than by being extracted from sedimentary deposits. Sea salt contains vital minerals like potassium and calcium, among many other beneficial elements. Sea salt is one of the most important of hummus ingredients, by boosting and bringing out flavor.
Here at Hope, we think of flavor a bit like we do life. There are moments that call for the traditional and comfortable, and there are moments that should be completely new and exciting. We love to cross the boundaries of cultural styles and mix them into unique mash-ups with organic hummus ingredients that our fans can’t get enough of! Try maple syrup with chipotle peppers, coconut with curry, or beets with ginger. The possibilities are endless!
