‘I compared Sainsbury’s hummus to Leon’s and my lunches will never be the same’ – Jessica Battison

Hummus, the fresh summery staple. No millennial’s picnic is complete without it.

The Middle Eastern dip is traditionally a blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic. You can now walk into any supermarket and find a whole variety of flavours and take on the essential, but there’s something so tasty when it’s kept simple.

With the tasty fast food chain Leon stocking their own range of hummus at Sainsbury’s, I decided to put it to the test against the supermarkets own offering.

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One obvious difference to point out first is that Leon decides to go with the ‘hummus’ spelling, whereas Sainsbury’s opts for ‘houmous’.

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From what I’ve read online, the fast-food chain has gone with the most common. But they’re still the same thing, and this is about taste- let’s not delve into dictionary politics.

Leon’s dip cost £2 for 150g, with Sainsbury’s giving you more than double for just £1.60. So, which is the best value for money?

I put them head to head and used the ultimate vessel to get the dip from pot to mouth: the humble Sainsbury’s pitta.

Leon

Leon's 150 grams of hummus will cost you a pricey £2- that's almost a whole meal deal

Leon’s 150 grams of hummus will cost you a pricey £2- that’s almost a whole meal deal

First things first, Leon’s hummus instantly looked fancy. A generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, sprinkling of paprika and a couple of chickpeas were all nice little touches.

Winning me over was the smooth texture. It was almost buttery (without the greasiness) and absolutely melted in my mouth.

It had a distinct yet subtle taste, with little nuances of flavours greeting my senses in every mouthful- and I had several.

I couldn’t taste the promised ‘Sicilian lemon juice’ every time, but it was a nice surprise on the rare occasions that I did. More of that Leon, please.

However, I did enjoy the touches of cumin blended into the hummus. That really gave it a little special kick without being too much and ruining the simplicity.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury's own houmous comes in at a respectable £1.60 for a hearty 315 grams

Sainsbury’s own houmous comes in at a respectable £1.60 for a hearty 315 grams

She’s humble, she’s simple, but the Sainsbury’s houmous is just what you want- and you know you’ll get it.

Less creamy than Leon’s, this one had almost a bitty texture. Kind of rougher but I’d say it makes it more filling.

It’s definitely the more substantial option, and I’d probably use this one to go in a nice filled pitta too, not just as a dip.

The flavour is nothing special, but it tastes like hummus should do and isn’t gross; so job done really.

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The Verdict

You get more for your money at Sainsbury's own brand - but which is better?

You get more for your money at Sainsbury’s own brand – but which is better?

You clearly get a lot more for less at Sainsbury’s, so really it depends on the occasion, and how much you’re willing to pay for a bit of dip.

Leon’s use by date is much longer than the supermarket’s and it absolutely offers more flavour. But what are you looking for in your hummus?

Both offerings were light and summery, they did just the trick.

But for my lunches and snacks, I think I’ll just stick with trusty Sainsbury’s- and save the £. Maybe if I feel the need to impress at a picnic, then I’ll find myself splashing the two quid on Leon’s

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