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Black sesame latte is a unique, delicious drink that brings a touch of Asian tradition into your daily routine. This creamy, nutty beverage is dairy-free and caffeine-free, perfect hot or iced, and sure to become a favorite.
The secret lies in our homemade black sesame paste. Made with toasted black sesame seeds and honey, it’s healthier and tastier than store-bought versions. This paste adds rich, nutty flavor and a hint of sweetness, making your latte more creamy and satisfying.
Table of Contents
Why you will love this latte
This black sesame drink ticks all the boxes! If you’re cutting down on caffeine yet still want to indulge in a luxuriously delicious hot (or cold) beverage, this latte is for you.
Growing up in Taiwan, desserts and drinks made from black sesame were some of my favorites. They are not only healthy but also taste earthy, nutty, and delicious. This latte brings back those cherished memories and flavors in a creamy, frothy cup. Plus, it’s perfect for any time of the year—warm and cozy in winter, or refreshing and chilled in summer.
Ingredients
My black sesame latte recipe uses just 5 simple ingredients and can easily be adjusted to suit your tastes and dietary needs.
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- Unsweetened soy milk, oat milk, or almond milk: These dairy-free milks provide a smooth and creamy base for the latte.
- Dairy-free milk creamer: Adds extra creaminess and a hint of flavor to make the latte rich and frothy.
- Black sesame paste: The star ingredient that gives the latte its unique, nutty, and roasted sesame flavor, made with toasted black sesame seeds and honey!
- Pink salt: Enhances the overall flavor and brings out the natural sweetness of the sesame paste.
- Toasted black sesame seeds: Used as a garnish for added texture and a boost of nutty flavor.
Substitutions
Even though this recipe is perfect as is, it is so easy to make this sesame milk tea vegan, with dairy, or with store-bought paste.
- Make it vegan: Blend the black sesame seeds with maple syrup instead of honey.
- Change the creamer: Heavy cream or coconut cream give a thick, creamy texture.
- Use store-bought paste – I prefer this Japanese version (Marumoto).
- Use sesame powder: If you can’t find black seeds, use black sesame powder.
Variations
- Make it Whole30 – Make the sesame paste with date syrup as opposed to honey.
- Make it with tea – Blend the beverage with hojicha tea powder for a hojicha sesame latte.
How to make black sesame latte
In order to make this beverage, we need to make my black sesame paste first. Luckily it’s super easy to make and has only two ingredients – black sesame seeds and honey!
Black sesame paste
- Dry Roast the Seeds: In a non-greased pan, dry roast 0.5 cup of black sesame seeds over low heat for about 5 minutes. Toss the pan often to roast the seeds evenly.
- Grind the Seeds: Transfer the roasted seeds to a mini food processor and grind until they turn into a fine powder, which should take about 3 minutes.
- Make the Paste: Add 2 tablespoons of honey to the ground sesame seeds and process again until you get a smooth paste. This should take another 3 minutes.
Hot sesame latte
- Simmer the Milk and Creamer: In a saucepan, heat the soy milk and dairy-free creamer over low heat until it starts to simmer, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.
- Blend with Sesame Paste: Pour the hot milk mixture into a 12 oz. pitcher. Add the black sesame paste and a small pinch of pink salt if desired. Use a milk frother to blend until smooth and frothy.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with toasted black sesame seeds. Serve hot and enjoy immediately.
Iced sesame latte
- Chill and Blend: Use chilled milk and creamer. Blend with black sesame syrup until smooth.
- Serve Cold: Add ice to glasses and pour the cold sesame milk over the top.
TIP: Instant powder mix
For an even easier option, you can find instant packets of black sesame powder latte (sweetened or unsweetened) called Kuro Goma Latte in Asian supermarkets. These are made with black sesame seeds, soybean powder, salt, and sugar (in the sweetened version). The sweetened version is quite sweet, and the consistency is thinner than homemade. But it is super convenient!
More ways to use black sesame paste
You can save the leftover sesame paste for next time but here are more ideas to use the paste!
Desserts
- Black Sesame Soot Sprite Cookies: These adorable cookies are not only cute but also packed with nutty black sesame flavor.
- Black Sesame Ice Cream: A dairy-free delight that’s creamy, rich, and perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
- Black Sesame Mochi: Chewy and sweet, these mochi treats have a wonderful nutty twist.
- Black Sesame Cake: A moist and flavorful gluten-free cake with the unique taste of black sesame, perfect for any occasion.
- Black Sesame Cookies: Crisp and buttery with a delightful sesame flavor, these cookies are a hit with everyone.
Traditional Treats
- Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Balls): These chewy rice balls filled with sweet black sesame paste are a traditional treat, especially enjoyed during festivals.
Make-ahead and storage
- Store the Paste: Keep the black sesame paste in an airtight glass container. It will last in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Blend Before Serving: For the best texture and flavor, blend the milk and sesame paste right before serving to avoid separation.
- Shake Well: If you’ve made the latte milk ahead of time, shake well before serving to ensure it’s properly mixed.
Helpful tips
- Make the Black Sesame Paste First: Blend black sesame seeds with honey into a paste first. It stores well in the fridge for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste and add sweetener as needed. Honey, maple syrup, or agave can be used.
- Hot or Cold: This black sesame cream latte can be made hot or cold, making it perfect for any season.
- Caffeine-Free and Dairy-Free: Despite the name coffee latte. This beverage is caffeine and dairy-free!
- Versatile Black Sesame Paste: Use the leftover black sesame paste in cookies, ice cream, mochi, cakes, and more for a delicious twist.
FAQ
Yes. Black sesame seeds have many health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants and may improve blood pressure and promote healthy skin and hair (source). You can control the level of sweetness if making it at home.
It’s creamy, nutty, and rich with a roasted sesame aroma, offering a unique and delightful flavor that’s both comforting and satisfying.
No, black sesame latte is completely caffeine-free and does not contain any coffee.
Yes. I recommend buying black sesame paste made in Japan. It has a thicker consistency and the seeds are roasted.
More latte and frothy drinks
If you loved this latte, here are more delicious and frothy drinks to try. These recipes are sure to keep you coming back for more!
- Korean Strawberry Milk: A refreshing and fruity drink made with fresh strawberries and milk, perfect for a sweet treat any time of day.
- Strawberry Almond Milk: A creamy and dairy-free drink with the natural sweetness of strawberries and the nutty flavor of almond milk.
- Royal milk tea: A Japanese milk tea made with black tea leaves, milk, and dark brown sugar. Easy and delicious!
- Paleo Golden Milk Latte: A warm and cozy drink made with turmeric, coconut milk, and a hint of spice, perfect for a healthy boost.
- Paleo Hot Chocolate: A rich and creamy hot chocolate made with coconut milk and dark chocolate, perfect for satisfying your chocolate cravings without the guilt.
Black sesame latte recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup soy milk oat, or almond milk, unsweetened
- 1/4 cup dairy-free milk creamer I use Nut pod vanilla flavor
- 2.5 tbsp black sesame paste see notes
- Small pinch pink salt optional
- Sprinkle Toasted black sesame seeds
Equipment:
- 12 oz mixing mug or pitcher
- One stick blender
Instructions
Hot black sesame latte:
- Simmer the milk and creamer in a saucepan, uncovered, over low heat until simmering, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir periodically.
- Pour the milk into a 12 oz (1.5 cup capacity) pitcher. Add the sesame paste and salt. Use a stick blender to blend the milk with the paste until smooth and frothy.
- Garnish with a small touch of black sesame seeds. Serve hot and immediately.
Iced black sesame latte:
- To make Iced black sesame latte, add chilled milk and milk creamer to the pitcher and blend it with the sesame paste until smooth. Add ice to the serving glasses and pour the cold sesame milk over.
Notes
- Black sesame paste (makes 8 tablespoons/ half cup):
- 0.5 cup roasted black sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp honey
- See the detailed instructions on my Black Sesame Paste recipe.
- To make a larger quantity, you can scale up the recipe and blend the milk with the sesame paste in a blender until frothy.
- A small pinch of pink salt will further enhance the flavor and bring out the sweetness.
- 1 serving = half cup for this recipe.
- The nutritional value is estimated with homemade black sesame paste that’s sweetened with regular honey.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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So delicious and so easy to make. Not gonna lie, I ate some of the paste by itself it was so good lol
Thanks so much!
Super good. I added a bit of brown sugar and tea bag of oolong with a bit of water to dilute the fullness of the milk. Nice warm feeling to this drink. My sesame paste was store bought with brown sugar and maple syrup so it was a great paste for this latte.
That sounds amazing! I love the Oolong touch! Thanks for sharing!
OMG. This was so good! Your sesame paste recipe was great, too. I’ve been wanting to recreate this for a while, but none of the recipes I found had worked out until I tried yours. Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try your black sesame vegan ice cream recipe!!!
Thank you, Amy! So happy to hear. It is a lovely drink!
I made it the other day and this hot drink is so so good! I made the homemade black sesame paste from scratch, following the recipe instructions and it’s so good. Next time, I’ll make more black sesame paste and store in the fridge so I can have my sesame latte fix in no time!
That’s wonderful. Thank you!
I have a store bought black tahini at home and have been wondering what else I can do with the paste! This latte drink is perfect. Exactly what I need. My store-bought jar is not sweetened with honey so I blend the milk with some honey and it was fantastic! Thank you so much for this recipe. This hot latter will be my go-to drink for this winter!
That’s wonderful. So happy to hear!