Picante

Starting off our Packaged Hummus series with a banger, may I present to you the sweet and spicy Picante hailing from sunny South Florida. When you think South Florida you picture, spicy, sexy and maybe a little bit sweet. While this hummus has 2 of those qualities, it's not actually spicy, contrary to what its moniker might suggest. Sephardi's I'm sorry but Ashki's come running, as this is the Hummus that would have kept the Jews warm on a blistering cold shtetl night. It comes in a sleek 10oz tub with a bold red label and enough confidence to make you wonder: “Am I attracted to this Hummus?” The aroma is quite subtle, inviting its guest to take a closer smell (or taste). The color leans creamy light yellow with small notes of pine nut. Packaging is bright but this one ain't making the cover of Sports Illustrated. Creamy, though slightly denser than you might have expected. The hummus doesn't feel overly heavy on the stomach but no matter how down bad I was feeling, I'm not going to be able to finish that tub but damn is she tasty. I've had bushels and bushels of restaurant hummus that can't hold a candle to this store bought masterpiece. This is some of the most serious tasting hummus I've found on a store shelf Our key test and criteria of store-bought Hummus — how acidic is it. This one isn't like a your Greek Theía (aunt for the uncultured) cracking out a buffet of lemons at dinner but it has some bursts of acid that hit the tongue if you are astute enough to notice. Picante Hummus may not deliver what its headline promises (spice) but it is one of the best store bought hummuses that exists. Thinking of buying your kid a new Mac for Chanukkah, scratch it and buy a pallet of Picante Hummus. A reassuring taste that is versatile as a workhorse. **Please note: Store-bought hummus ratings are scored on a separate scale to their restaurant counterparts.