The Hummus Harvest

Chickpeas come but once a year

In Israel, the chickpea harvest takes place every year in June, when the pods are golden and the beans are shelled. In other words, the local supply is replenished only once a year. The amount of time that passes from the point when the chickpeas leave the soil to when they arrive in the pot, has a large impact on their cooking characteristics – chickpeas purchased around July or August will soften much faster than those that have been stored on the shelf for over a year.