(Chick)Peas in the Middle East: Lebanon Defeats Israel in Ongoing Hummus War

AP

10,452 kg of national pride.

Israel and Lebanon have more or less been at each other's throats for more than 60 years. And during the last few they've also been arguing over what goes down each other's throats: specifically, hummus.

Both countries claim that they invented the chickpea mash, and both are not above using the Guinness Book of World Records to try to prove it. Or, if not prove it, then prove they can make a shitload of it: this past weekend, Lebanon tasted victory with the world's largest hummus platter, which weighed in at a whopping 10,452 kg.

The win was a major upset over Israel, which this past January churned out 4,090 kgs of hummus. As the Voice of America reports, the competition dates back to the attempts of a Lebanese businessman to have the EU register hummus and other foods like falafel and tabouli as national dishes. Israel disputed the claim, and thus yet another rivalry was born.

Ramzi Choueiry, the Lebanese chef who led the hummus team, is not content with his victory, however: he next plans to create the world's biggest falafel. Which is fine, but none of the coverage so far answers the most important question: how did the hummus taste?

[Via the Food Section]