Black Sesame Latte
Nutty, aromatic, warming and nutritious, this Black Sesame Latte is the perfect drink for those days when you want something special but are too lazy to head to Starbucks! I focus on the Korean version (Heukimja Latte) but also show you the substitutions necessary for a Middle Eastern version.
Servings: 1 person
Calories: 241kcal
Equipment
- Spoon
- Glass Make sure it's heat-proof if making a hot latte
- Blender, saucepan and whisk or milk frother Optional, only if you want a frothy latte top!
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Black Sesame Paste You can get this at the Asian grocery store or make your own using this Chinese black sesame recipe. You can also using black sesame powder and mix it with a bit of sesame oil (to make it more spreadable without having to add a truckload of honey!)
- 1 Tablespooon Honey ONLY IF your black sesame paste is unsweetened, then add some sweetener. You can also use maple syrup, brown sugar syrup or a sugar substitute if making a hot black sesame drink (the nutrients in honey are destroyed by the heat.) I find that using at least half as much sweetener as black sesame is necessary to complement the latter's slightly bitter flavor, but feel free to sweeten to taste!
- 1 Cup Milk My favorites are soy, almond milk or whole milk but feel free to use a vegan milk of your choice.
- 1 shot espresso, optional Only if you want a caffeinated drink! I usually make this drink without coffee to be honest. Substitute: strong coffee
- Sweetened whipped creaming topping Highly recommended to complement the black sesame's earthiness.
Instructions
- If your black sesame paste is unsweetened, mix well with the sweetener of your choice. This is to prevent you from getting a bitter mouthful of sesame seeds later!
- Skip to this step if the sesame paste is sweetened: Use a long spoon to smear the black sesame all over the walls of the glass.
- Pour in the milk. If you want a coffee latte, follow it with the coffee or espresso (optional.)
- I highly recommend squirting on sweetened whipped creamed and sprinkling toasted sesame seeds on top.Alternative: for a frothy latte top, shake milk in a mason jar or gently warm it in a saucepan and whisk it. (You can also use a blender of milk frother if you have them!)
Notes
Variations
- Less caffeine: substitute the coffee with Hojicha Tea- the smoky roasted flavor goes very well with the nuttiness and earthiness of Black Sesame. Alternatively, just leave out the coffee or use decaf.
- Middle Eastern Inspired: use medjool dates instead of honey to sweeten and substitute black tahini for homemade Asian black sesame paste. Dates are a Whole30-friendly sweetener, FYI!
- Iced: Chill the milk and coffee before pouring over the ice, to prevent the ice from melting and diluting the taste of the black sesame!
Nutrition
Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 476mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 397IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 457mg | Iron: 2mg