I don’t mean to offend those who are passionate about their coffee by naming this drink cappuccino, but I can justify. The rich, foamy texture and deep flavor of this black sesame tea reminded me so much of all of cappuccino’s finest qualities, that I couldn’t resist giving it this name. I generally don’t drink coffee, but that changes as soon as I find myself on the other side of the Atlantic, where vacation mode and the magic of the European lifestyle make coffee into a very pleasant necessity for me. Otherwise, it’s always tea. Out of the caffeinated teas, good quality black, loose leaf tea is my drink of choice.
In my latest attempt to take a break from caffeine, I came across the possibility of using black sesame seeds and dates in a hot, tea-like drink. Chinese black sesame tea has long been known for its therapeutic properties. It is especially believed to nurture and restore hair strength, and is generally a great, calming whole body tonic, thanks to the overwhelming amount of nutrients in black sesame seeds.
When I made my version of black sesame seed tea for the first time, I couldn’t believe its rich taste and velvety texture. It really hit the spot and I’ve been drinking it in the morning for the past couple of weeks, not missing caffeine very much. Sesame seeds contain lots of lecithin, which, aside from helping keep your arteries flexible, accounts for the silky, creamy texture of this tea. In the absence of black sesame seeds, I’ve substituted with unhulled tan sesame seeds, which worked great as well.
I’ve included a recipe for another sesame drink I discovered while making my cappuccino. The taste of this milk reminds me of halva, one of my favorite childhood treats. This one is quick to prepare and quite satisfying in its own way.
Black Sesame Cappuccino
1 cup black sesame seeds (I like these)
2 soft dates – pitted
3 cups water
1 cup homemade almond milk or almond-sesame milk (see recipe below)
1. Combine sesame seeds, dates and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, adjust heat to a strong simmer and cook for 30 minutes, partially covered. The water volume should reduce by about 1/3. Towards the end, mash dates against the sides of the pan with a spoon, letting them further release their sweetness. Strain the liquid and collect black sesame seeds in a large strainer.
2. Pour the strained liquid back into the saucepan, add one cup of almond or almond-sesame milk and reheat gently. Add sweetener of choice, if needed (I find the subtle sweetness from dates to be enough). Optionally blend at high speed to make it foamy. Enjoy hot.
Note: Optionally, you can dry the leftover black sesame seeds for future use. To do that, spread them on a baking sheet and keep them in the oven at the lowest temperature for a couple of hours. When almost completely dried, turn off the oven and leave the seeds in until the oven is cold.
Halva Milk
2 cups homemade almond-sesame milk (see recipe below) – warmed if desired
2 tablespoons toasted black sesame seeds – ground in a coffee grinder
any preferred sweetener – to taste.
Combine all the ingredients in a blender until well combined and frothy. Enjoy hot or cold.
Almond Sesame Milk
1 cup almonds
1/4 cup unhulled sesame seeds
Soak almonds and sesame seeds in purified water overnight. Drain by catching the seeds in a fine-mesh strainer, rinse under cold water. Combine nuts and seeds in a strong blender with 4 cups of purified water. Blend until smooth. Strain through a nut bag or cheese cloth. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Natalia says
I first discovered how healthy the black sesame seeds are when I used them to make a soap! Interesting how this little seeds have so much to give for our health.
Anya, your cappuccino sounds great! Have you also tried the raw version?
Anya says
Hi Natalia, I haven’t tried making a raw version, do you have one?
Eileen says
This is such an intriguing idea! I’ve never heard of making tea with sesame seeds before. I’m definitely going to give it a try!
Anya says
Thank you Eileen, I hope you enjoy it.
The Holistic Herbivore says
Wow this looks so interesting! I am looking forward to trying this!
Anya says
Thank you :)
molly yeh says
this looks absolutely amazing, anya! i love black sesames. i have a huge massive bulk bag in my freezer :)
Anya says
Thank you Molly! That’s great, sounds like you’re prepared :)
kristie {birch and wild} says
Genius and so pretty :)
Anya says
Thank you Kristie!
Valentina @Hortus says
This makes me so think of all the asian shops I used to visit :) And it totally looks like a cappuccino! I am getting a but tired of my turmeric milk + carob milk rotations, so now that black sesame is also easy to find here in Italy I am definitely gonna try this!
Thank you so much!
Anya says
Hi Valentina, thanks so much, I hope you enjoy it :)
Sini says
This is just…wow! Love it, Anya <3
Julia says
These look and sound so good, i want to make them immediately! And thank your for the info on the lecithine, so it should keep any nutmilk from separating if i add some sesame to it before blending… will give that a try asap!
Mikołaj says
It looks really tasty!:)
Anna says
I’ve never heard of this black sesame before but sounds amazing :)
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Jessica says
This sounds really good, but most of my mornings are already packed before I have to go to work. Is this a recipe that can be made ahead, stored, and reheated? Or is it something that had to be made fresh each time, and best saved for mornings that are slower?
Anya says
Hi Jessica, you can make it ahead of time and re-heat. I do that all the time.
Anna says
I just made it and it was sooooooo good. I didn’t have enough black sesame seeds so I mix tham with white ones. It came out just fine. I have a cold and added little bit of honey into my drink. That was what I needed. Thank you!!!
Anya says
Anna, I’m so happy that you enjoyed it :)
Kitty says
Hi-
I made this recipe and want to report it is absolutely delicious. I am sensitive to caffeine, and wanted something warm to drink besides decaffeinated teas, hot chocolate or coffee substitutes one buys at the store. I had been wracking my brain trying to come up with something creative, but you did that work for me. This is the perfect solution. It is simply a delicious, healthful warm drink.
I also want to thank you for this beautiful blog. It is wonderful to read, and the photographs are gorgeous. Your recipes are so creative, interesting and different from anything else out there. I look forward to your next cookbooks as well.
Thank you for all the care and effort you put into this work.
Anya says
Hi Kitty, thank you very much for the warm and thoughtful comment! I am so glad you tried and enjoyed the cappuccino. Wishing you all the best,
x Anya
Ian says
Interesting twist on a cappuccino. Can this also be made with white sesame seeds?
Anya says
Hi Ian, I’ve tried making this drink with unhulled white sesame seeds and it worked out well. Have not yet tried making it with hulled ones, so cannot say for sure.
Marie says
I would have NEVER thought of doing this with sesame seeds. Do you think it would work with black sesame seeds paste?
By the way, I have your book, and it’s amazing. The recipes are so creative, and I must say your daughter is a genius when it comes to pictures…
Anya says
Hi Marie, I’m so glad you are enjoying the book, it means the world to both of us. Unfortunately, I am not sure whether this will turn out with sesame paste, as I’ve never given that a go. If you do try, please let me know how it works.
x Anya
Natalia says
I made this this morning, and I fell in love with this drink!Can’t wait to make it again tomorrow(I added some water to the leftover black sesame seeds,blended it with some dates,almonds and got an interesting ‘latte’ which we enjoyed in the afternoon). Thank you, Anya, for this discovery!
Lane | Modern Granola says
Woah! So interesting! I have never heard of this before. I really want to try this out.
Love your site!
xx Lane
elisa says
I tried this today and it looked like black ink. should it be this way? in your marvelous photos it was much brighter… even with almond milk it only turned to a darker grey. it looks like the perfekt halloween drink (a cup of slate, anyone? :D). the taste was nice though. Next time I’ll try it with some bright sesame seeds and maybe something more creamy than almond milk…
Grace says
Just made this (after having it pinned for ages!) and absolutely loved it. Used a bland of sesame seeds and cashew almond milk. It’s revolutionarily delicious
LLJames says
Hi, I just ran across your blog while typing black sesame seed cappuccino. Yours was one of the first ones that popped up. I went into my kitchen and made it right away. I’m sipping on it while I write this and gave some to my husband. He liked it and I love it! I’m a fan of hot cocoa type drinks and this black sesame with almond milk hits the spot. I’m looking forward to making a big batch for my family and guests during the Fall and Holiday Seasons. Thank you for posting this.
Anya says
Hi! I’m so glad you enjoyed this cappuccino! It’s one of my favorite fall/winter drinks. Hope your family enjoys it :)
The Book of Food says
I was a little bit suspicious when I first heard of it and reading the recipe didn’t make me feel any better. I tried it anyway and what a surprise ! It smells very good and it tastes even better. It’s rich and comfy, very delicious. The dates bring enough sweetness I have found without denaturing the taste. Surprisingly good ! Thank you !
Anya says
So glad you liked it! Thank you for leaving this note.