The origin of Hummus

[AdamH]

A really interesting article from Ha'Aaretz, a leftie Israeli newspaper, discussing the conflicting origins of Hummus. Same debate could be had for countless middle eastern foods...which are regional rather than country-specific.

Is the Jewish attitude toward hummus tainted by culinary colonialism, or does it rather signify integration into the region? The anthropologist Dr. Iris Kalka, who deals with market research, offers an analysis that stems almost from economic reasons: "Because hummus is a food that most of us do not prepare at home, the industrialists and the advertisers have to attach it to additional values, such as family and authenticity, and also acknowledge its association with another people. It is all part of the attempt to connect between food made by machines and the people who are ostensibly behind it, thus according it `added value.' After all, food that is prepared especially for you is considered better than food that is simply put into a well-covered hermetically sealed package. So `it is made with love,' and the hummus or tehina is called `Arab' or `Lebanese,' and curly letters are printed on the cover, so the product is immediately perceived as more authentic and hence also tastier."

[Tenenbaum]

I make my own hummus, thank you very much! And it's 10x's more dank than anything you'll find in the supermarket!

[PhishyK]

You really think that article is interesting? *really* interesting even?

Wow!