Pine nut hummus was once a beloved appetizer and snack food, featuring the nutty flavor of pine nuts blended with chickpeas, olive oil, and lemon. However, over the past few years, pine nut hummus has become increasingly hard to find in grocery stores and restaurants. So what happened to this tasty dip? There are a few key reasons behind the decline of pine nut hummus.
Reason 1: Rising Prices of Pine Nuts
Pine nuts, which are the edible seeds of pine trees, have become extremely expensive in recent years. Prices have skyrocketed due to a combination of factors:
– Shortages caused by drought and disease affecting pine trees in China and Southwest Europe, two major producers of pine nuts. Climate change is contributing to hotter, drier conditions in pine tree habitats.
– Growing demand, especially in Asia, for pine nuts in cooking and baking. Pine nuts are a popular ingredient globally.
– Speculation by investors and commodity traders, who see pine nuts as an increasingly valuable commodity. This drives up prices further.
Between 2011 and 2021, the wholesale price of pine nuts increased over 700%. For pine nut hummus makers, this massive price hike meant much higher production costs. Producing a tub of pine nut hummus suddenly became far more expensive than using more affordable nuts like almonds or walnuts. As a result, many brands made the financial decision to stop using pine nuts.
Reason 2: Lack of Consumer Awareness
While pine nut prices soared, most consumers remained unaware and continued expecting pine nut hummus at the same affordable prices. Brands found that they could not dramatically increase pine nut hummus prices enough to offset the 7-fold increase in pine nut costs.
Attempts to educate consumers on why pine nut hummus now cost $8-10 per tub versus $3-5 failed. Consumers did not want to pay triple the price for pine nut hummus. They simply bought cheaper hummus varieties instead.
Lacking consumer willingness to pay far higher prices, brands stopped producing unprofitable pine nut hummus. Hummus with more reasonably priced nuts replaced it on grocery shelves.
Reason 3: The Rise of Alternative Nut Hummuses
Pine nut hummus was once unique for its nutty flavor. But over the past decade, hummus brands have created dozens of new nut-based hummus flavors using cheaper nuts. Options like almond hummus, walnut hummus, and pistachio hummus took over the niche that was once dominated solely by pine nut hummus.
Furthermore, brands innovated new flavor combinations for nut hummuses, such as Sweet Maple Almond, Chili Lime Pistachio, and Chipotle Walnut. These expanded nut hummus choices provided more options for consumers.
The greater availability and affordability of alternative nut-based hummuses enabled their popularity to surge while pine nut hummus declined precipitously.
The Outlook for Pine Nut Hummus
So what does the future look like for pine nut hummus? Here are some projections:
– Continued Niche Status: Pine nut hummus will likely remain a niche, premium-priced product purchased only by devoted fans willing to pay higher prices or those with certain allergy needs. It will lack mass market appeal.
– Lower Production Volumes: Only a handful of small hummus companies who can charge premium prices will likely continue making pine nut hummus in limited batches. Large mass-market brands are unlikely to return to pine nut hummus production.
– Holiday Season Special Releases: Some brands may produce pine nut hummus only during the December holiday season and market it as a specialty, gift-worthy item. This can cover the higher December retail prices.
– Diversifying Supply: Turkey and China may ramp up pine nut production to take over more market share from China and Southwest Europe. This could moderately improve supply and decrease pine nut prices.
– Birth of Higher-End Pine Nut Hummus: Small-scale artisanal brands may craft premium, high-quality pine nut hummuses using unique flavor combinations to justify luxury pricing levels of $15-20 per tub.
While pine nut hummus will likely remain a shadow of its former self, this gourmet dip could carve out a new niche as a rare, upscale artisanal food item. Aficionados willing to pay a premium may keep the pine nut hummus tradition alive.
Nutrition of Pine Nuts vs. Other Nuts
Pine nuts do have a unique nutritional profile that differs from other nuts used in hummus. Here is a comparison of the nutrition of pine nuts versus almonds, walnuts, and pistachios (per 1 oz serving):
| Nutrient | Pine Nuts | Almonds | Walnuts | Pistachios |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 191 | 163 | 183 | 159 |
| Total Fat | 19 g | 14 g | 18 g | 13 g |
| Protein | 4 g | 6 g | 4 g | 6 g |
| Carbs | 4 g | 6 g | 4 g | 8 g |
| Fiber | 1 g | 4 g | 2 g | 3 g |
| Calcium | 16 mg | 77 mg | 37 mg | 36 mg |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 1.1 mg | 2.9 mg | 1.2 mg |
| Magnesium | 68 mg | 81 mg | 45 mg | 34 mg |
Key things to note:
– Pine nuts have the most calories and fat per serving compared to other popular hummus nuts. This contributes to their rich, satiating taste.
– Pine nuts offer the least protein and fiber versus the other options.
– Pine nuts provide a decent amount of magnesium and iron, but far less calcium than almonds.
– Walnuts and almonds have higher levels of certain vitamins and minerals that pine nuts lack.
So while pine nuts offer a distinctive flavor, some of the alternate nut choices can provide more nutritional benefits thanks to their fiber, protein, and micronutrient content. Still, pine nuts remain a healthy plant-based fat source.
Pine Nut Hummus Recipe
If you want to make your own pine nut hummus at home, here is an authentic recipe to try:
Ingredients:
– 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
– 3 Tbsp tahini
– 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
– 3 Tbsp pine nuts, toasted if desired
– 2 cloves garlic, peeled
– 1 lemon, juiced
– 1 tsp sea salt
– 1/4 tsp ground cumin
– 2-3 Tbsp cold water
Instructions:
1. In a food processor, combine the drained chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and cumin. Process until a smooth paste forms, scraping down the sides as needed.
2. With the food processor running, slowly stream in the cold water until hummus reaches the desired creaminess.
3. Transfer hummus to a bowl. Drizzle with extra olive oil and top with pine nuts if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
This easy recipe lets the nutty earthiness of pine nuts shine through. The quantities can be adjusted based on personal taste preferences. Serve with fresh vegetable crudites, pita chips, or bread.
Alternatives to Pine Nut Hummus
Pine nut hummus may be hard to find and expensive these days, but many quality alternatives exist at more affordable prices:
Traditional Hummus – Made without nuts, traditional hummus with just chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and spices offers an authentic flavor and creamy texture. It’s versatile and budget-friendly.
Almond Hummus – Almonds give hummus a lighter, nuttier taste. Subtle enough to pair with many recipes.
Walnut Hummus – Walnut hummus has an earthier, richer profile. It makes a good dip for fall/winter dishes.
Pistachio Hummus – Vibrant green and flavorful. Pistachio hummus pairs well with lighter springtime foods.
Edamame Hummus – For a twist, edamame hummus has a sweet, buttery flavor from using shelled edamame versus chickpeas.
White Bean Hummus – Great northern or cannellini beans can provide a smoother, airier alternative to chickpeas.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus – Roasting red bell peppers brings out additional sweetness and depth of flavor.
The options abound for hummus lovers who don’t want to pay a premium for hard-to-find pine nut hummus. Experiment with different nut and bean varieties to discover new favorite hummus recipes.
How to Save Money on Pine Nuts
If you have your heart set on pine nut hummus, here are some tips for saving money on costly pine nuts:
– Buy in bulk quantities. Shop at warehouse stores or online retailers offering bulk sizes to get lower per ounce/pound prices. Divide extra pine nuts into freezer bags.
– Buy pine nut pieces rather than whole pine nuts. The small pieces or chipped pine nuts can work great in hummus with a texture similar to finely ground nuts.
– Purchase Turkish pine nuts rather than Chinese or European ones. Turkey’s pine nut production has increased, bringing more supply to market.
– Buy pine nut meal/flour made from ground pine nuts. Using the flour avoids the need to grind whole ones yourself.
– Consider pine nut oil. Just a small amount of pine nut oil can provide the flavor without the cost of the nuts themselves.
– Swap a portion of pine nuts for cheaper nuts like almonds or walnuts. Use just enough pine nuts to get the flavor in blend.
– Wait for end-of-year seasonal sales. Pine nuts may go on sale around the holidays when demand increases.
With smart shopping techniques, you may be able to enjoy pine nut hummus more affordably. But also explore whether other nut or bean hummus options can satisfy your cravings too. Expanding your hummus horizons can save money.
Conclusion
Pine nut hummus was once ubiquitous – a staple appetizer on restaurant menus and in grocery deli cases across America. But starting around 2010, pine nut hummus started disappearing rapidly as skyrocketing pine nut prices made production unprofitable. Lack of consumer willingness to pay much higher prices delivered the final blow.
In pine nut hummus’s absence, a dizzying array of alternative nut-based and bean hummuses have taken its place. While pine nut hummus retains a small niche presence, it will likely never return as a mainstream dip. But for hardcore fans, a few specialty producers may keep the cuisine alive – for a price.
Pine nuts offer a uniquely flavored, fatty nut that undeniably creates a delicious hummus. But other nuts and beans have their own charms nutritionally and taste-wise. Savvy consumers can find new hummus favorites while also using tricks to cut the cost of occasional pine nut hummus indulgence. This versatile dip’s history illustrates the canny innovation and adaptation displayed by both producers and consumers in the face of changing market conditions.