If you’re tired of fruity teas and other drinks, then this Vegan Black Sesame Latte is for you. It’s got a toasted umami undertone that’s reminiscent of peanuts, well-complemented by both sharper and sweeter flavors, making it the ideal hot low histamine drink for cooler weather.
Jump To
About this recipe
East Asian Flavor. Before I became ill with histamine intolerance and a host of other issues, I lived in South Korea for a few years, where black sesame is a very typical flavor. Recently I’ve noticed black sesame lattes, heugimja lattes (흑임자 라떼), becoming popular quite there, so I decided to make a vegan black sesame latte with a low histamine twist!
Savory + Sweet. Black sesame powder is a ground toasted seed with very savory notes, almost smoky, which are very well-complemented by the addition of honey or date syrup.
Comforting Low Histamine Drink. Much like the barley tea you drink after meals in Korea, this warm beverage is both comforting and satisfying, and the paste is easy to save & store.
Ingredients
Black Sesame Powder: this dark, roasted seed offers an abundance of flavor, as well as nutrients and a nice texture. See notes to use whole black sesame seeds.
Date Syrup or Honey: there are a multitude of low histamine sweeteners you can use in drinks, but by far my favorite is manuka honey. Not only is it great for the digestive system, but manuka honey has been proven to lessen allergy symptoms, like those of histamine intolerance. A sugar-free alternative is my keto simple syrup.
Unrefined Sesame Oil: much like the oil which settles at the top of tahini, an unrefined oil has simply been pressed out of the seeds without extra heating or coloration. This oil helps to bind the paste and add back in a bit of fat to help carry the flavor.
Non-Dairy Milk: you can use any type of milk you’d like in this recipe, but I’d highly recommend trying a homemade non-dairy milk.
How to make sweet black sesame paste: step-by-step instructions
Step 1. Put your black sesame powder, honey, and sesame oil into a blender, and blend into a paste for about 30 seconds.
Step 2. Put most of your paste into an air-tight container, setting aside 1 Tablespoon for use now.
Step 3. Beat 1 Tablespoon of black sesame paste with a couple ounces of the milk or tea, and then blend in all the liquid with a milk frother, until well-combined.
Step 4. Add ice and/or a shot of tea or espresso (if desired), and enjoy!
Recipe notes & tips
Using Whole Sesame Seeds: Using whole black sesame seeds rather than black sesame powder means using many fewer seeds and a lot more energy, which is why I recommend you use the powder. But if you’re worried about sourcing, just measure the seeds by weight (45g).
Sugar Content: Currently this recipe calls for 3 Tablespoons of honey, or 48g of sugar, making each Tablespoon contain 6g of sugar per latte (+ whatever is in the milk).
Flavor add-Ins: I recommend using coconut milk, oat milk, or any other tolerated milk as the base, but you can also add a shot of very strongly-brewed ginger tea, rooibos, or even a shot of espresso for flavor, as tolerated.
What to do with black sesame paste
- add it to the base of a smoothie
- blend it into high-protein energy balls
- stir it into ice cream and other sweet treats
- use it as part of a homemade mochi recipe
- make black sesame cookies
Black Sesame Latte FAQ
This black sesame paste can keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Yes, you can use an oil other than sesame oil but it’s not recommended. If you don’t have any sesame oil on hand, however, you can try another more neutral oil like ghee or olive oil.
Traditionally black sesame paste is used as a flavoring in East Asia dishes, specifically for sweetening rice-based desserts and adding umami flavor to more savory dishes.
Homemade Black Sesame Latte Recipe Card
As always, if you like the recipe, I really appreciate a review or comment!
Black Sesame Latte (Vegan Version, Low Histamine)
A sweet & mildly savory low histamine drink with the nutty undertone of black sesame.
Ingredients
For the Paste
- 1/2 cup black sesame powder (45g)
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons unrefined sesame oil (only 1T if using whole seeds)
For the Drink:
- 1 Tablespoon sweet sesame paste
- 1 Cup milk of choice (coconut milk or oat milk, Use ginger tea or rooibos for a more latte flavor, shot of espresso optional as tolerated)
Instructions
- Put your black sesame powder, honey, and sesame oil into a blender and blend into a paste for about 30 seconds. Put most of your black sesame paste into an air-tight container, setting aside 1 Tablespoon for use now.
- Beat 1 Tablespoon of black sesame paste with a couple ounces of the milk or tea, and then blend in all the liquid with a milk frother, until well-combined.
- Add ice and a shot of tea or espresso, if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
USING SEEDS. Using black sesame seeds rather than black sesame powder means using many fewer seeds, which is why I recommend you measure the seeds by weight.
SUGAR CONTENT. Currently this recipe calls for 3 Tablespoons of honey, or 48g of sugar, making each Tablespoon contain 6g of sugar per latte (+ whatever is in the milk).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 871.79kcalTotal Fat: 59.1ggSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 119.11mgmgCarbohydrates: 76.91ggFiber: 1gSugar: 63.65ggProtein: 18.7gg
Nutrition data is primarily accumulated from online calculators for convenience and courtesy only, and can vary depending on factors such as measurements, brands, and so on. We encourage you to double-check and make your own calculations.
Save this post for later!
Rosanne
Sunday 30th of April 2023
This looks delicious. And since you mentioned Korean barley tea maybe you can answer something I've been wondering: D you know if Korean barley tea is OK for someone with histamine intolerance?
Rosanne
Monday 1st of May 2023
@Max, Thanks so much. I'll give it a try :)
Max
Sunday 30th of April 2023
Thank you! And while barley does contain gluten, as long as you're not feeling extremely reactive, the teeny amount in a cup of barley tea is unlikely to bother you. If you're not feeling very reactive, then I'd just make a cup and try just a few sips, then have some water; if it goes fine, after a day or so I'd make another cup and try the whole thing, etc.