Hummus has origins throughout the Middle East, with Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Israel among the most popular places to make the food. These countries are where hummus originally came from, though today it can be found on store shelves in virtually every grocery market available. And these countries are doing their best to protect hummus, with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists petitioning the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade in 2008 to protect its status from the European Commission as a uniquely Lebanese food. These countries are very protective of their valuable hummus, since its popularity has only continued to rise as new hummus brands, hummus dips, and hummus recipes continue to make their way into the world.

Hummus is quite a delicious treat, so these countries are right to want to protect it and keep it as their own, even going so far as to be entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for setting the record for the largest amount of hummus prepared at one time. This record dish weigh four tons, or the equivalent of four cars. However, as more countries produce it and commercialize it, more are trying to gain their share of the increasingly popular hummus market. This is great news for consumers, who have more hummus options than ever to add to their dishes and accompany their snacks. Various recipes using hummus are making their way into the online world as well, allowing for anyone with a kitchen and some initiative to whip up an easy hummus recipe in no time.

People often eat this treat without actually knowing what it is, though. There is no real problem with this, but plenty of people now want to know the typical hummus ingredients and how they are used to create such a tasty treat. Typically, hummus ingredients include chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, and either some form of oil and some seasonings to create a delicious treat with a smooth texture. Hummus ingredients prepared together will generally be about only 25 calories and about 2 grams of carbohydrates for each tablespoon, so it is a light treat that packs a tasty punch. Hummus ingredients pack a nutritional punch too, with one serving containing about one percent of a person’s daily recommended amounts of riboflavin, vitamin BG, potassium and calcium. These hummus ingredients are both delicious and nutritious, sending even the most cautious of eaters into a dizzying tailspin to try and find some hummus of their own.