So I soaked the chickpeas overnight and was just boiling them, when I noticed a tiny black thing floating in the pan. Initially, I assumed it was a small piece of the black cardamom pod but it turned out to be an insect.
This is the 4th time in 1 year, despite using different brands of dried chickpeas. Is this normal? 
Re: bugs in dried chickpeas?
Did it look like this?:
Re: bugs in dried chickpeas?
Judging from this picture… I would say yes.
Re: bugs in dried chickpeas?
Are you storing the chickpeas in dry, airtight containers? I’ve had those nasty bugs get into stuff like sooji and flour packets which I had not re-sealed properly. One desi remedy is to spread out the chickpeas on a cloth and put them out in the sun (assuming you get enough sunlight where you are 
). Leave them out for a day, then sift them through a colander or sieve with larger holes to get rid of any remaining bugs.
Re: bugs in dried chickpeas?
I think you need to establish whether they are in the new packets (can happen with daals, chickpeas, rice etc esp the desi brands) or if they are in other dry foods in your cupboards.
Re: bugs in dried chickpeas?
@ LucyMay: I live in the UK, we don’t get much sun over here. But that is okay, because I am not sure whether I want to eat infested chickpeas. :o
I store daals etc in airtight containers and I didn’t find anything in them, yet. It is just an issue with chickpeas, as I soak the chickpeas right after opening a new packet. Be it Natco, TRS or a brand from the local desi shop.. I just keep finding tiny insects. Yikes.
I guess I will have to try non-desi brands. Thanks for your responses tho.
Re: bugs in dried chickpeas?
are they dead or alive?