Healthy Black Sesame Desserts that Nourish Your Body

Black Sesame Seed Flavor

Black sesame seeds really shine in desserts because of their irresistible deeply nutty and earthy flavor with a little edge of bitterness. When you add a touch of sweetness, something magical happens. The flavors become complex balanced and intensified. Not to mention, the midnight black color steals the show with its dramatic eye-catching appearance.

Health Benefits

What black sesame recipes don't cover in looks, they make up for in their health benefits. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, black colored foods like black sesame seeds (Hei ze ma, 黑芝麻) may help by nourishing the kidney and liver, replenishing blood, restoring vitality and relieving constipation.  The energy level of black sesame seeds is neutral making it a good choice to maintain balance in the body for most individuals.

Asian Fusion Desserts

Living in Asia allowed us to enjoy black sesame seeds in our diet way before it was cool to do so.  Did you know that black sesame seeds were first used in China thousands of years ago used primarily for its medicinal properties. From there, it moved to Japan where they experimented putting this super food into desserts.

Living in both Hong Kong and Japan, has given us a unique perspective on flavor combinations possible with black sesame seeds. We love creating and testing recipes that bring traditional Asian flavors to the Western World to create an Asian-fusion delight.

How it all Started

Let's start out with THE very first dessert recipe in Asia that made us fall madly in love with the flavor of black sesame seeds. For a Westerner, the idea of eating a warm soup (tang sui as it is referred to in Hong Kong) for dessert may seem a bit foreign - I get it. But hear us out, this recipe will completely transform how you feel about eating a hot porridge as a sweet treat.  Enjoying Black Sesame cereal especially in the cooler winter months is a delicious way to warm up from the inside out and support your kidney yin. 

What Flavors Pair Well with Black Sesame Seeds?

• Cardamom
• Matcha
• Chocolate
• Earl grey
• Walnut
• Citrus fruits like lime, lemon, yuzu and orange
• Berries like strawberries, raspberries or blackberries
• Dried fruits like Chinese red dates, goji berries
• Bananas
• Mangoes
• Coconut
• Vanilla and caramel
• Durian
• Sweet potatoes

What is the Difference Between Black Sesame Seeds and Nigella Seeds?

Don't confuse black sesame seeds with nigella seeds. They have a very different flavor profile. Yes, they are both seeds and are black and similar in shape but that is where their similarities end. Black sesame seeds are nutty and rich in flavor. Whilst Nigella seeds taste is oniony and peppery. That would not be good in a dessert!

Are White Sesame Seeds and Black Sesame Seeds the Same Thing?

White sesame seeds differ from black sesame seeds in processing, flavor and nutritional levels but they both come from the same plant. White sesame seeds are white in color because the hull is stripped from the sesame seed. Their flavor profile is milder compared to black sesame seeds. They are nutty and is delicious in Middle Eastern recipes like tarator sauce, European and American baking.

Black sesame seeds are black in color because the hull remains intack. Their flavor profile in nutty but with a little more intense earthy and a slight bitterness at the end. Black sesame seeds are more comonly found in both savory or sweet Asian recipes. However, the biggest difference between white sesame and black sesame seeds is in the health benefits. Black sesame seeds have more nutrients, antioxidants, fiber and nourishes kidney and liver, according to TCM compared to white sesame seeds.