Hummus? It’s more than just a dip, it’s a way of life, shows new movie

As the popularity of hummus continues to grow around the world, a new documentary is seeking to explain how the pureed mix of chickpeas, garlic, lemon and tahini is far more than just a dip. With US and Chinese food conglomerates having recently bought up hummus brands, high-street hummus outlets popping up throughout Europe, and some US farmers switching tobacco crops for chickpeas, ‘Hummus! The Movie’ explains the political and cultural antagonisms that have played out in arguments about the humble Middle Eastern dish. It charts the so-called 'hummus wars’ between Lebanon and Israel over recent years, as both countries vied to win back the Guinness World Record for the biggest bowl of hummus.

The Israelis now are claiming that hummus is part of their tradition, it’s a traditional Israeli dish, blah-blah-blah-blah. We wanted the world to know that this is not true.

Lebanon’s tourism minister Fadi Abboud

Israeli director Oren Rosenfeld says he hopes the documentary gives audiences some understanding of the emotions that hummus can evoke, but in a light-hearted manner. "I hope that in the future our conflict with Lebanon will be about hummus and falafel rather than gas and borders.“ The film also follows three Israeli hummus makers from very different backgrounds - Suheila Al Hindi, a Muslim woman from Accre, Jalil Dabit, a Christian man from Ramle and Eliyahu Shmueli, an ultra-orthodox Jew from Yokne'am. Each describes how hummus is a way of life.

I mean it’s just food, let’s try and agree this a friendly competition about food.

Director Oren Rosenfeld

Arts hummus