Who is this guide for?

Christmas cooks short on time

You want to make a salad, hummus, couscous or side dish without having to plan ahead for soaking. Manger Bouger lists pulses in jars or tins as a practical option for quick recipes.

Shoppers keeping an eye on sugars and salt

You compare nutritional information per 100 g and want to distinguish the sugar content shown on the label from a ‘reduced in sugars’ claim.

Shoppers who care about organic produce and origin

You’re looking for clear information about how the chickpeas were produced or where they come from, without assuming this applies to every product from a brand.

Which criteria should you check first?

First, choose between a ready-cooked or dried format, depending on how much time you have. Then compare the details that matter for your recipe.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Preparation time Choose ready-cooked chickpeas for a quick recipe and compare their drained weight. With dried chickpeas, allow time for soaking and cooking. If I’m making hummus or a salad without waiting for the chickpeas to cook, I’d choose a ready-cooked format; around 46% of consumers would make speed their top priority.
Sugars and salt Check both values per 100 g. If the product claims to be ‘reduced in sugars’, check which similar product it is compared with. If I’m comparing tins for a festive meal, I want to understand their nutritional values without confusing a sugar value with a reduction; around 36% of consumers would put this check first.
Ingredients and origin Read the ingredients list, along with the organic and origin information for the product you’re considering. When choosing ingredients for my dish, I want to know what they contain and, if it matters to me, where they come from or how they were produced; around 18% of consumers would prioritise these criteria.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing a low sugar value with a reduced-sugars claim

    European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 defines a reduced-content claim as a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar product. The 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g listed by E.Leclerc for its Notre Jardin chickpeas is a value for that specific product, not evidence of a reduction based on a comparison.

    Check that the claim actually appears on the product and look at the comparison it refers to. For plain chickpeas, check the ingredients and salt content too.

  • Buying dried chickpeas for a dish you need to make straight away

    E.Leclerc recommends soaking them overnight, then cooking for around 1 h 30 in a saucepan or 40 minutes in a pressure cooker. Make sure you allow for this when planning your meal.

    If you’re cooking at the last minute, choose a ready-cooked format; otherwise, start soaking the chickpeas the night before.

  • Assuming the origin from the brand name

    Origin can vary between products: E.Leclerc says the main ingredients in its Notre Jardin chickpeas may come from the United States, France and/or Mexico, while Carrefour’s product listing for Jardin Bio étic states that the chickpeas are of French origin.

    If origin determines your choice, check the information on the product you’re buying.

  • Relying on a product without checking the store

    A product you’ve spotted online may not be available at your chosen store when you go shopping.

    Before heading out for your Christmas shopping, check local availability and find an alternative that meets the same criteria.

Brands to know

Notre Jardin

E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range includes tinned cooked chickpeas.

  • E.Leclerc’s listing for the 530 g product states that it contains soaked chickpeas, water and salt, with 0.7 g of sugars and 0.7 g of salt per 100 g.
  • E.Leclerc says the origin of the main ingredients may vary; check the product if this matters to you.

Carrefour Classic’

This Carrefour brand offers a tin of chickpeas with a net drained weight of 530 g.

  • Carrefour lists the ingredients as soaked dried chickpeas, water and salt.
  • To compare sugars or salt with other products, check the nutritional information for the one you choose.

Bonduelle

The cooked chickpea product listed by Carrefour is available in a 265 g tin.

  • The ingredients list published by Carrefour includes chickpeas, water and salt.
  • The listing states ‘may contain soya, cereals containing gluten’: check the tin’s labelling if this information is important to your choice.

Jardin Bio étic

Carrefour’s listing describes a 660 g jar of organic chickpeas, stated to be of French origin.

  • Carrefour lists organic chickpeas, water and sea salt, and states that the agricultural ingredients are of French origin.
  • Organic status and origin alone don’t tell you the sugar content: compare the nutritional information separately.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a low sugar value mean ‘reduced in sugars’?

No. A single value doesn’t prove that there has been a reduction. Under European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a reduced-content claim requires a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar product.

Which chickpeas should I choose for a last-minute Christmas recipe?

Choose chickpeas that are already cooked, in a jar or tin. Manger Bouger recommends these formats as a practical choice for quick recipes; then check the drained weight, ingredients, sugars and salt per 100 g to suit your recipe.

How much time should I allow for dried chickpeas?

Start soaking them the night before. E.Leclerc then recommends cooking them for around 1 h 30 in a saucepan or 40 minutes in a pressure cooker; allow for these timings if your dish needs to be served at a specific time.

Can I rely on finding a particular product at Aldi for my Christmas shopping?

Check that it’s available at your store before you set off. An online product listing doesn’t guarantee that the product you want will be available locally when you shop.