Alternative Eats: TABBIL Hummus
We delve deeper into Shanghai’s food underbelly to give you an alternative view of the city’s dining scene.
TABBIL hummus aims to offer Shanghai residents a real and authentic taste sensation. Growing up in England, Nigeria, Lebanon and Ghana, native Lebanese food has always offered a sense of home for TABBIL creator, Chahin. Before moving to Shanghai in 2006, Chahin learned essential recipes, including a few family secrets, from his mother in order to bring a bit of home along with him. While in Shanghai, Chahin started to experiment a little in the kitchen, mainly with his mother’s hummus recipe, which proved popular with friends.
In fact, the TABBIL brand all began with these friends, Chahin told Talk, “When I got invited to parties and barbecues my invitation was always contingent on me bringing some hummus. I’m not just saying this, it’s true.” From friends' parties to Chahin’s own dinner table, the hummus grew into a brand through a small competition between himself and one of his close friends over who could make the better hummus. Chahin admitted to Talk, “I made a bit of fun about hers so she said let's go down to Jiashan Market and see what’s what!” At the market, Chahin’s hummus was a great success, selling out over and over again, with customers coming back for more.
The amazing feedback from Jiashan Market lead to further experimentation. Before rolling out the TABBIL brand, Chahin had to test for the right blend and quality of ingredients for his creation. Chahin soon discovered that imported products simply made the taste better and now each tub of TABBIL is made from imported chickpeas, tahini and lemons with a dash of organic garlic. However, the secret to TABBIL’s amazing smooth taste is not the ingredients but the method according to its creator. He told Talk, “It’s the process of how the chickpeas are treated and how the ingredients are all blended together.” We must concur that TABBIL is deliciously creamy with a unique texture.
Before being confident enough with selling his hummus to the general public, Chahin had to consult with his family and, most importantly, get approval from his mother. Chahin explained further, “Basically it needed to be good enough to make my mum proud before I would allow people to eat it - and mum's standards are high!” Mum’s approval and family support ultimately lead to the launch of the TABBIL brand on the 28th of April 2013. Each tub of TABBIL still credits Chahin’s mum - “TABBIL: mum’s recipe only better.”
TABBIL hummus is currently available at several stores including the Avocado Lady (274 Wulumuqi Lu, near Wuyuan Lu), Enjoy Store (1260 Fuxing Lu, near Xiangyang Lu), Pantry by the co-op (205 Jianguo lu, near Wulumuqi lu), other smaller shops around the Former French Concession and at Jiashan Market. If you are planning a small dinner party or a get together, it is also possible to order TABBIL hummus directly from Chahin. Soon there will be a dedicated TABBIL website with an order service and its launch will be celebrated with new flavors including Chahin’s current favorite, a ‘Chinese Fusion Blend’. All TABBIL Hummus retails at RMB 35 so try out a tub today!
According to TABBIL’s owner there is no other real hummus on the market in Shanghai; there are other places that sell hummus but it is never the real authentic taste and texture you get from TABBIL...
