Mediterranean food has become the center of most of my meals lately because it’s packed with fresh ingredients and plenty of health benefits. I’m always looking for products that taste homemade and are easy to work into lunches, dinners, or quick snacks when I’m short on time. That’s exactly why I was excited to try a variety of Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods products, from their salads and hommus to their premium Reserve collection, tzatziki, and pita chips.
I received the reviewed products for free and all opinions are my own.
Before getting into the tasting, it’s worth mentioning a little about Cedar’s. The company has been making Mediterranean-inspired foods for decades, with recipes rooted in authentic Lebanese family traditions. Instead of relying on heavy sauces or artificial flavors, their products focus on fresh vegetables, herbs, chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, and bold Mediterranean seasonings. After trying such a wide variety from their lineup, that commitment to fresh flavor really stood out.
The Salads
Freshness is what makes a great Mediterranean salad, and that’s exactly what stood out here. Each one had its own personality while letting the vegetables, herbs, and seasonings do the work.
Cedars Foods Salad
(Cedars Foods Salad)Taboule Salad
The Taboule was really well done. The parsley was bright and the tomatoes added just the right amount of juicy sweetness. The bulgur gave it a satisfying texture, and the lemon and olive oil dressing tied everything together.
One thing I really appreciated was that it wasn’t dry, but it also wasn’t swimming in dressing. Every bite tasted balanced and refreshing. This would be just as good as a light lunch as it would alongside grilled chicken or fish.
Black Bean Salad
This ended up being my favorite salad of the three. The first thing I noticed was the crunch from the cucumbers and peppers, followed by the mild bite of the red onion. Instead of tasting heavily vinegary, this one stayed fresh and bright with Mediterranean seasoning staying front and center.
The cucumber helped keep everything cool and crisp, making each spoonful taste just as good as the first. I honestly kept going back for another bite until the container was gone.
Chickpea Salad
Going into this one, I expected the chickpea and edamame flavor combo would be the focus of the salad. Instead, the cumin, garlic, and Italian herbs became the stars, while the carrots and dried cranberries added natural sweetness that completely changed the flavor profile. It felt much lighter than I expected and had a really nice balance between savory and slightly sweet.
The Dips
Cedars Foods
(Cedars Foods)Cucumber Garlic Dill Tzatziki
This was incredibly refreshing. Every single ingredient stayed in balance. The cucumber added freshness without becoming watery, the garlic stayed subtle, and the dill added just enough flavor to finish each bite.
It worked equally well with vegetables, pita chips, and sandwiches.
Cedars Foods
(Cedars Foods)Hot Honey Hommus
This one was a surprise hit for me. I wasn’t expecting the combination of sweet honey and spicy chili to work quite this well with creamy hommus, but somehow totally did. The honey hits first before the heat starts building, and together they create one of those flavors that makes you want to keep dipping your pita chips. It was genuinely difficult to stop eating.
Cedars Foods
(Cedars Foods)Roasted Red Pepper Hommus
Once everything was stirred together, the roasted peppers brought natural sweetness while the char added smoky depth. Mixed with the garlic, tahini, and olive oil, every bite became rich, savory, slightly salty, and incredibly flavorful.
This easily ranked among my favorites.
Cedar’s Reserve Hommus
The Reserve collection takes Cedar’s already creamy hommus and builds on it with additional toppings and more layered flavors.
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(Cedars Foods)Organic Original
Sometimes simple is exactly what you want.
The texture here was exceptionally smooth, making it perfect for dipping. The garlic stayed subtle, never overpowering the tahini, while everything tasted balanced and clean. It’s the kind of classic hommus that works with absolutely everything.
Organic Roasted Red Pepper
Like the regular version, this offered plenty of sweet roasted pepper flavor, but stirring everything together added even more moisture and richness.
The peppers created a nice salty zing. It almost felt silkier after mixing everything together.
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(Cedars Foods)Organic Olive Tapenade
In this hommus, the olive flavor was totally supported the rest of the ingredients rather than taking over. It reminded me of dishes like Spanish picadillo where the olives become part of the overall flavor instead of dominating it.
The garlic, tahini, and olives blended nicely, creating something that that reminded me of a Mediterranean olive grove where fresh hommus had just been made.
It was vibrant, balanced, and incredibly satisfying.
Organic Mediterranean Pine Nut
This one leaned into herbs more than expected. The oregano stood out, while the pine nuts added a really great texture. It reminded me of something out of a fresh Mediterranean kitchen, filled with herbs and roasted vegetables.
The subtle crunch from the pine nuts was probably my favorite part.
Organic Za’atar & Tahini
If you love herbs, this is the one to buy. The thyme, garlic, cumin, and za’atar created the most herb-forward flavor of the entire lineup. It offered a fun change from traditional hommus while still staying true to classic Mediterranean flavors.
It tasted savory, earthy, and incredibly authentic.
Organic Harissa
This ended up being my overall favorite. The heat here wasn’t smoky or vinegar-based. Instead, it built gradually while letting all of the other flavors come through. The creamy texture balanced the spice, making it super flavorful instead of simply hot.
If you enjoy spicy foods, this is the way to go.
Cedars Foods
(Cedars Foods)The Pita Chips
Good dips deserve equally good chips, and Cedar’s pita chips definitely held their own.
The Garlic Pita Chips were perfectly crunchy with a savory garlic seasoning that was just right. The Mediterranean Salsa Pita Chips layered in red pepper, onion, garlic, and just enough salt to complement the dips. The Original Pita Chips were simple and versatile, making them the perfect option when you really want to focus on the dip flavor.
Final Bite
After tasting such a wide selection, what impressed me most was how fresh everything tasted. None of the salads felt weighed down by dressing, the dips were creamy without being heavy, and every flavor seemed thoughtfully balanced.
If you’re looking for a new way to incorporate Mediterranean flavors into your meals, Cedar’s has built a lineup that’s packed with fresh ingredients and enough variety that just about everyone will find a new favorite.
Dining and Cooking