Chewy Black Sesame Cookies are the ultimate gluten-free chewy black sesame cookies with a hint of five spiced powder goes perfectly with a steaming hot-pot of deliciously smooth tea.
Every year, I have always attended the Hong Kong International Food and Tea Fair but life became very busy and I was not able to attend this August. However, sweet little Alison from TeaVivre sent the tea directly to me so that I could do a little taste testing right here from the comfort of my own home.
When ever I plan to drink tea a lot of tea, I need to have a little something to eat with it or my hands will begin to shake from all of the caffeine. If I am going to drinking some delicious Chinese tea in Hong Kong overlooking the China Sea, I need a little taste of China, BAM Style with some delicious chewy black sesame seed cookies.
Chewy Black Sesame Cookies are gluten free, dairy free and egg free
If you like chewy cookies, you are really going to like this quick and easy recipe. I found this recipe for Almond Rice cookies and really loved the consistency of the cookie. I cannot eat eggs so I used the cornstarch and water replacement. I also added ground sesame seeds instead of almonds in the cookie dough and added vanilla instead of almond flavouring and added the delicate flavours of Chinese five spiced powder. I also tried the traditional almond recipe and they are both delightful. These little chewy black sesame cookies are gluten-free, egg free, dairy free and vegan. If you are looking for other vegan, gluten-free and dairy free delicious CHEWY cookies be sure to try our Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie and our Chewy Mandarin Orange cookies
I must admit these little Chewy Black Sesame Cookies And TeaVivre are so addicting, I think it is their sweet delicate Chinese five spiced flavour and that chewy consistency that makes you coming back for just one more and then another…. I do not know exactly what happened to these chewy black sesame cookies. I must admit I had a couple or maybe 3 or so to sample with my tea testing but then the other 20 cookies have magically vanished. Hmm, I wonder, with two hungry teenage boys just home from school, where these cookies may have gone…
TeaVivre is an online Chinese tea company with many quality teas. They have just completed celebrating their 3rd year anniversary and have many delicious teas to sample and try. I sampled 4 different teas that are the perfect way to celebrate some of the warmer weather before we head into the fall. A few months ago I posted an entry on Hong Zao Bread and a TeaVivre and these are some great teas for the cooler months.
If you are new to tea drinking and brewing Chinese teas, then I think the TeaVivre Chamomile Rose Silver needle tea is the perfect place to begin. When you open the package, it is beautiful with full green silver needles, whole roses and whole camomile flowers.
It smells delicately sweet and floral. During the first brew, the delicate rose was the first flavour noted with the background of the smooth silver needles. With the second pour, the chamomile was more prominent. I had four lovely pours and this tea left me relaxed and calm.
I had a couple of my delicious chewy black sesame seed cookies while I waiting for my water kettle to heat.
The second tea sampled was the TeaVivre organic silver needle white tea (Bai Hao Yin Zhen). This tea is organically grown at Mt. Taimu(太姥山) in Fujian, China. When you first open the package you note the beautiful whole green tea buds with a delicate layer of white hairs.
The first pour you notice the sweet undertones of freshly trimmed hay and very smooth and delicate taste, almost a hint of honey. With the second pour, I enjoyed the more intensely honey and melon essence. With more pours it started to have a peppery zest aftertaste. It is a very mild white tea.
I ate another delicious chewy black sesame seed cookie whilst I waited for the water kettle to heat….
The third tea sampled was the TeaVivre Organic White Peony Tea (Bai MuDan). Personally, I like this tea just as much as organic silver needle white tea. When you first pour this tea, it smells like fresh ground hay and with second and third pours, the floral hints come to your nose. It is a delicious light tea and with further brews you have a more intense herbal essence.
I shared a couple more of the delicious Chewy Black Sesame Cookies And TeaVivre with friends whilst I waited for the water kettle to heat…
The fourth and last tea that I tried was the TeaVivre Xi Gui ancient Tea Raw Puer Cake 2013. The first thing I noticed how perfectly intact the tea leaves were and that is a very good thing. The first pour was a smooth and then the second pour more sweet and intense. It is both bold and mellow at the same time. This raw puer taste lasts for many pours. It is a very new raw puer, so I am certain with many years it will improve with flavour and essence as it naturally ages.
Enjoying tea is a favourite pastime in China
Raw puer has a higher caffeine count compared to the mellow white teas so now I was more than ready to have another one of my chewy black sesame seed cookies.
In China, sharing tea is healing and part of the culture. Tea is enjoyed at family gatherings, in order to pay respect to the elders and a way of healing and keeping your qi flowing. Enjoying tea is also the perfect way to take a moment for yourself to relax. Drinking Chinese tea is also a great way to enjoy renewed friendships or to make new ones. Please take a little visit over to TeaVivre and see what kind of different teas and tea accessories that they have available on-line.
I hope you will take a moment out for yourself to enjoy and little tea and some delightful chewy black sesame seed cookies as I am sure it will bring a smile to your face.
Disclaimer: TeaVivre sent samples to me to review but my opinions remain entirely my own.
More Chinese Desserts and Snacks
Braised Orange Anise Lotus Root
Apple Pecan Spring Roll Mooncakes
Sweet Sticky Rice Chinese New Year Cake
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Chewy Black Sesame Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp black sesame seeds
ground (and extra whole for garnish) - 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- 2/3 cup rice flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
or sugar alternative - 2 tbsp honey
or maple sugar for vegan - 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp five spice powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F (162 C).
- Grind sesame seeds in a food processor or with a mortar and pestle bowl and set aside. (I just did a rough grind on the sesame seeds as I like some of the whole sesame seeds in the cookie) Mix cornstarch in a small bowl with water and set aside.
- Mix rice flour, ground black sesame seeds, sugar, cornstarch and water mixture, honey, vanilla and five spiced powder until well mixed.
- Line baking sheet with waxed (parchment/baking paper) and spoon about a teaspoon full of cookie dough on sheet. Sprinkle and press a few black sesame seeds to garnish. Make sure you leave plenty of room between cookies as they will spread and be quite flat when they come out of the oven. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until edges are slightly golden brown.
- Allow cookies to cool for about 5 minutes on cookie sheet and then remove from the waxed paper.
- Makes about 24 small cookies or 9 extra large chewy sesame seed cookies. Store in a sealed container. Enjoy!
I’d love to invite myself over…. 😀 I love black sesame cookies! Love the cookies and tea shot. Very cool! <3
I am a dedicated tea drinker and these cookies look like a nice compliment! For me tea is an experience that I greatly enjoy every day! 🙂
Ooooh these look fabulous!
Nice sweet tooth cookies!!!
enjoy it even without the tea…
Oh! it looks gorgeous! I’ve never tried to bake cookies with black sesame! great idea!
Mr. Buddy is so cuuuuute! Goodness, these sesame cookies are beyond yum and black sesame seeds are my favorite topping! I love that you added five spice powder for a bit of spice flavor and this is a stunning snack to have with a cup of lovely tea!
I think I’d enjoy both the tea and the cookies!
I love those cookies. I’ve got some Tea Vivre too and I’m fit and healthy so it’s time to do some taste testing. 🙂
Oh, I seriously love chewy cookies and this sounds incredibly flavorful with the sesame seeds and that bit of spice that would easily make them addicting. What a gem of a recipe, Bobbi. I was a little taken aback by the fact that you can’t have eggs (I love eggs, you see…) but looking at everything you cook, I know I don’t need to worry about you ‘suffering’ too much in that regard.
I drink lots of tea throughout the day…wish I had these cookies to go with my cups tomorrow…
Thank you Monica. Your kind words made my day. I still cook everything for my family but I have to avoid eggs. Bummer as I totally love them. I have learned many new ways to exchange eggs out of my dishes and it really can be replaced out rather easily. Have a super day! Take care, BAM
I really wish I was a tea fan…or a fan of sesame seeds for that matter. But it all looks so pretty -and your pup – adorable!
Oh Bobbi, these chewy cookies just look and sound fantastic…and thanks for introducing me to this tea…I have never heard of this brand…it sure sound awesome!
Enjoy the rest of your week 😀
I’m a tea girl myself…actually having a cup of Earl Grey tea as I read this. One of your cookies would be a nice treat to go with the tea. 🙂
What gorgeous, adult cookies! Meaning they’d be perfect to take to my girlfriends to munch on with our tea and coffee, but my hubby with his childlike palate would be looking for the chocolate chips! Love a chewy cookie!
Teavivre are doing the rounds – another blogger in Australia just did a review of their tea too ! Both yours and hers look delicious – I love good quality tea.
I made something like this before but its not chewy, this looks way much better
Perfect match with the tea! I love all these different varieties! A cup of such tea along with couple of your cookies would make my day!
The white teas sound really good! I would love to have a cup with one of your cookies.
I much prefer tea to coffee – great cookies and great review!
These cookies look good! Love the tea too.
This looks like a lovely way to pass an afternoon – I am so jealous of those lovely teas. And I am definitely going to try your cookies – pinning them too!
I’ve been enjoying a cup of green tea in the afternoons and just visited a tea house to purchase a variety for a birthday gift. I was amazed by the variation and flavors! TeaVivre looks like a great brand to try, especially with your Black Sesame Cookies!
What a coincidence! I won this same tea pack from Charles over at Five Euro Food but I haven’t had a chance to make anything with it. Good for you for coming up with such a clever pairing with these lovely cookies.
How lovely! I love the sound of those seame cookies. It sounds perfect with tea. How did u find raw pu’er? I tried it a couple of times but I still much prefer the fermented and aged ones.
Hello Jo! There are 2 different categories of puer tea. 1) Sheng Pu’er (also known as Raw, Uncooked and Green Pu’er) 2) Shu Pu’er (also known as Ripe, Cooked,fermented and Black Pu’er) Both of these teas are made from the same product but the raw puer does not go through the cooking/fermentation process to accelerate the ageing process. Raw puer is generally lighter and has a higher caffeine content. New raw pu’er can be bitter. However as the natural ageing process occurs these teas are like fine wines. Naturally aged raw pu’er teas are delightful and come with a high price attached. If you like cooked/fermented pu’er than I think you will really like the Ripened Aged Pu-erh Mini Tuocha from TeaVivre. Have a super day.
Both the cookies and tea sound wonderful!
Lovely…tell me more about cornstarch and water egg replacement, please.
Hello Tonette, I use 1 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water and mix to use for 1 egg replacement in my baking. There are many other egg replacements out there it just depends on what you need the egg for as what I use. Take Care, BAM
I love the tea that you sent me a few months ago – of course I drank it all, and I couldn’t even decide which one was the best – they were all so good!!
Hello Dawn, I am so glad that you enjoyed the tea from TeaVivre. I think I am spoiled living in HK as there are tea houses on ever street corner but if you are living in US, Canada, Europe, etc… this is a great way to enjoy a little Chinese tea without ever having to leave the comfort of your home.
Yes, whenever having a cup of tea, you always do need something to go with it. I love the look of the floral tea. I think your chewy biscuits with the flavours of honey, vanilla and sesame are a great match for the tea. Your dog is super-cute and I love how he’s a keen foodie xx
Thank you Charlie. I think you will really enjoy the Rose, chamomile and silver needle white tea. It is really light and beautiful, even better with a chewy black sesame cookie… Dogs really are man’s best friend and the best kitchen cleanup team. I bet your two little dashhounds are so much fun. Take Care, BAM
HI Bam, what a great cookie recipe and the tea sounds wonderful!
Oh sure, the boys ate them…haven’t you used that one before? Maybe you had some kind of a blackout – at least that’s what I’d go with. Although who is that sniffing the cookies about to go in the oven? Surely that’s not little Buddy is it? I think I’m going to have to give these cookies a try myself.
I really admire your ability to detect all of the flavors and undertones in those teas. I really like the sounds of that camomile tea and the part about it being relaxing.
Diane, I think I must sleep walk or there was some kind of weird bermuda triangle in the kitchen… Yes, that is little Buddy before his haircut. Camomile and rose tea is very tranquil and just the aroma is beautiful.
TeaVire is good stuff — I got to sample some, thanks to a giveaway you hosted! And these cookies would be wonderful to accompany tea. Love the black sesames in these. And also the bowser picture. 😉
I am glad you enjoyed the tea, John. I was chasing the natural light around my house trying to get some photos. I brought my cookie tray into the livingroom and set it on the couch and “someone” was very interested in what I was getting ready to pop into the oven.
I love learning about new teas so thanks for the review! I would love to have a tray of these cookies right now as I sip on my morning tea. Great breakfast don’t you think? 🙂
Thank you MJ. I think these chewy black sesame cookies are the breakfast of champions! Have a super weekend
Bam – I have been fascinated by black sesame since I saw you use it in a recipe awhile back – I can only imagine these cookies tasting delectable!
My afternoon snack is complete with this chewy cookie and tea combo! Thanks for sharing, Bam!
Julie
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