j*ni p. wrote:

>
> The first thing I noticed was the smell of cumin. No problem, I
> like cumin. Then I tasted the hummus -- it was good, but it seemed
> to have a bitter and/or sour after taste that I didn't care for.
> Is that normal, or is it perhaps a product of all the various gunk
> that one finds in store bought stuff?

As was already posted, it can sometimes be bitter. It depends on the
recipe and what you, personally, are tasting. Everyone's tastebuds are
different.

There are thousands of recipes for hummus. It's like the middle eastern
version of meatloaf, everybody and their grandma has a recipe. Try
several until you find one you like, the ingredients are usually cheap
enough. A can of tahini will make several batches.

Most of the variations I find are in the amount of tahini, the amount of
lemon (if any), and the amount of garlic. And how the garlic tastes
depends on the garlic you buy. Too much or too strong can make it bitter
also.

Some places add garnishes which can affect how you taste it, from olive
oil (fairly mild) to black olives, paprika, cayenne, or ground sumac.

Hummus is extremely subjective and personal in taste. Again, try several
recipes to find one that suits you.



Dawn