Reviews: Mauna Loa Dill Pickle Macadamias and Little Sesame Hummus

Mauna Loa Dill Pickle Dry Roasted Macadamias

Macadamia nuts may be valued for their creamy versatility as a snack nut or baking ingredient, but it’s rare that they’re extensively flavored beyond salty or sweet. Here they get the potato chip treatment, diving deep into piquant Dill Pickle flavoring, part of a three-part push to move Mauna Loa products into a more contemporary space, alongside Sea Salt & Vinegar and Pineapple Habanero.

Things that stand out:

• These are really coated with the dill mix – unlike some flavored nuts, your tongue and teeth can’t break through the dust to the nut until you bite down.
• They’re a tasty variation on the usual, conservative macadamia, and while they’re plenty dill-y, the overall flavor is closer to a cool ranch chip than a pickle.
• Packaging isn’t a huge plus – just a couple of dusty macs and a couple of bread-and-butter dillies in the middle of the gusseted standup pouch, as well as a beach-and-water background. Hawaii never looked so blah.

Things to consider:

• Like most pickle-flavored things, the enjoyment really lies in the mouth of the bechomper. If market research suggested there’s some running room for a macadamia/dill mix, they did a fine job with it.
• One improvement: it would be great if a little more of the nut’s inherent sweetness could break through.
• Overall packaging is a bit uninspiring given their usual premium pricing, but macadamia fans have been known to dig them out of car seats and drum kits.

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Little Sesame Hummus

Little Sesame’s refreshed hummus line pairs a stronger, more distinctive visual identity with a product that continues to deliver at a high level. The new packaging leans into bold, flavor-first lids and vibrant color coding, while the updated tub design shifts product visibility to the bottom, a functional choice that better suits the brand’s mix-in format. Just as important, the hummus itself stands apart from the category with a light, airy texture and clean ingredient profile that help reinforce its premium positioning.

Things that stand out:

• The new packaging has excellent shelf presence. Oversized flavor names circling the lid, bright colors, and a centered Little Sesame logo give the line a modern, confident look that is easy to shop.
• The bottom-view format is a smart fit for the flavored SKUs. Since ingredients like preserved lemon, jalapeño, and caramelized onion sit at the base ready to be mixed in, the clear bottom gives consumers a meaningful view of what makes each variety distinctive.
• The texture is a major differentiator. It is light and airy, avoiding the dense, gummy consistency that can make many mainstream hummus brands feel heavy or less fresh.
• The ingredient list is clean and highly approachable. Core components like organic chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, and garlic create a strong foundation, while the flavored varieties build on that base without losing their wholesome appeal.
• Flavor execution remains one of the brand’s biggest strengths. Preserved Lemon and Caramelized Onion continue to be the standouts, offering broad appeal while still feeling more thoughtful and refined than typical supermarket hummus.

Things to consider:

• The shift away from a visible top lid may be a small adjustment for existing customers. While the clear bottom is more functional for this format, many consumers are still used to seeing the product immediately from above.

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