By request, this houmous society report is temporarily replaced with a public service announcement.
We know that throughout history, chick peas have been a staple of the Egyptian diet. It is thought that chick peas have been around since prehistoric times. It is said that chick peas were growing in the hanging gardens of Babylon. As long ago as about 400 B.C., both Socrates and Plato were writing about the benefits of hummus (chick peas) in their diets. By 1200 A.D., many countries in the Mediterranean basin list hummus as one of their staple foods.
Hummus is the Arabic word for chickpea. In many Middle Eastern countries chickpeas and other vegetables have a long, rich history of been cultivated. Archaeologists have found evidence of chickpeas being used over seven millenia ago in some Middle Eastern countries.
The most popular theory of the origins of Hummus says that it was first prepared by Saladin. People who believe this theory usually date it to the 12th century and to the city of Damascus. They believe that hummus was prepared in this part for a long time and was unknown in other parts of the region.
It is difficult to find the exact origins of hummus as there is little evidence and many contradictory theories. Another factor making the exact origins of hummus difficult is the lack of recipe books that can be traced back during that period of Arab history.
There are other sources that show that the ancient Egyptians may have also consumed hummus. Chickpeas were cultivated in ancient Egypt and it is known that the Egyptians did eat chickpeas. What is not known though is how the Egyptians liked to eat their chickpeas, though obviously given the advanced level of their civilisation they probably enjoyed them deliciously prepared as houmous.