Sesame Seed Black 80g

Recipes & Uses

Why Keep Black Sesame Seeds in the Pantry?

More robust than white sesame
Black Sesame Seeds have a stronger, earthier and slightly more bitter flavour.

Fantastic visual contrast
The deep black colour makes them especially useful as a garnish.

Toast them for even more flavour
A minute or two in a dry pan brings out their nutty aroma.

Works in sweet and savoury dishes
Use them on sushi today and ice cream tomorrow.

Whole, toasted or ground
One seed gives you several completely different ways to use it.

What Do Black Sesame Seeds Taste Like?

Black Sesame Seeds are:

Nutty
Toasty
Earthy
Slightly bitter

with a more pronounced flavour than typical white sesame seeds.

When toasted, the nutty aroma becomes noticeably stronger.

This deeper flavour works particularly well with:

Rice
Soy sauce
Noodles
Fish
Bread
Chocolate
Sweet rice desserts

Black Sesame vs White Sesame

Both are Sesame Seeds, but they aren't identical in flavour or appearance.

Choose Black Sesame Seeds when you want:

• Stronger nutty flavour
• Dark visual contrast
• Asian-style garnishing
• Black sesame paste
• A slightly more robust seed

Choose White Sesame Seeds when you want:

• Milder flavour
• Tahini
• Burger buns
• A lighter-coloured garnish
• A more neutral sesame profile

They can also be used together for a striking black-and-white seed topping.

How to Use Black Sesame Seeds

Sushi

Sprinkle over sushi rolls or rice just before serving.

The black seeds provide a professional-looking contrast against white rice.

Poke Bowls

Finish bowls containing:

Rice
Salmon or tuna
Avocado
Cucumber
Edamame

with Black Sesame Seeds.

Noodles

Scatter over:

Ramen
Cold noodles
Stir-fried noodles

for an easy nutty finish.

Stir-Fries

Add at the end of cooking so the seeds retain more of their texture.

Salads

Use over:

Asian slaw
Cucumber salad
Green salads
Grain bowls

Toast Them for More Flavour

Black Sesame Seeds become much more aromatic when lightly toasted.

Heat a dry frying pan over medium heat.

Add the seeds.

Toast for around 1–2 minutes, stirring or shaking the pan regularly.

Remove them once they smell noticeably nutty and fragrant.

Because the seeds are already black, you can't rely on colour to tell when they're done.

Use aroma instead.

Be careful not to burn them.

Why Toasting Makes Such a Difference

Raw Sesame Seeds have a relatively subtle nutty flavour.

Heat develops more complex toasted aromas.

That's why toasted Sesame Seeds often taste much stronger even though you're using the same ingredient.

Use toasted seeds over:

Rice
Noodles
Vegetables
Salads

when you want the sesame flavour to stand out.

Try It This Way

For a simple sesame rice bowl:

Prepare steamed rice.

Top with:

Avocado
Cucumber
Cooked salmon or tofu

Add:

Soy sauce
A little sesame oil

and finish with:

Toasted Black Sesame Seeds

The seeds add flavour, crunch and visual contrast without requiring a complicated sauce.

Use Them in Bread

Black Sesame Seeds are excellent for baking.

Press them into:

Bread rolls
Bagels
Focaccia
Crackers

before baking.

The oven toasts the seeds while the bread cooks.

Their dark colour also looks particularly striking against pale dough.

Make a Mixed Seed Topping

Combine Black Sesame Seeds with:

White Sesame Seeds
Nigella Seeds
Poppy Seeds

Use over:

Bread
Crackers
Salads
Rice bowls

The mixture gives you several colours, flavours and textures at once.

Make Black Sesame Paste

Toast the seeds first.

Allow them to cool.

Grind until they begin to release their natural oils and form a paste.

Depending on the recipe, you can combine the paste with:

A little sesame oil

or

Sweetener

to create either a savoury or dessert-style mixture.

Use it in:

Dressings
Sauces
Desserts
Ice cream

Black Sesame in Desserts

Black Sesame has a particularly strong following in Asian desserts.

Its toasted nuttiness works well with sweetness because it prevents desserts from tasting one-dimensional.

Try Black Sesame Seeds over:

Ice cream
Mochi
Cheesecake
Cookies

or grind them into dessert fillings and pastes.

The dramatic black colour makes the flavour feel even more distinctive.

Sprinkle Them over Breakfast

Black Sesame Seeds can also be used as a simple finishing ingredient over:

Porridge
Yoghurt
Granola
Smoothie bowls

A small sprinkle gives extra texture without changing the entire meal.

Beyond Sushi

Once you've opened the pack, try Black Sesame Seeds in:

• Rice bowls
• Poke bowls
• Sushi
• Ramen
• Stir-fries
• Salads
• Asian slaws
• Bread rolls
• Bagels
• Crackers
• Cookies
• Mochi
• Ice cream
• Cheesecake
• Homemade sesame paste
• Seed mixes

Black Sesame Seeds earn their place in the pantry because they do three things at once — add nutty flavour, delicate crunch and dramatic visual contrast.

Toast Gently

For the strongest flavour, lightly toast the seeds in a dry pan for around 1–2 minutes.

Because Black Sesame Seeds are already dark, watch the heat carefully and use their increasingly nutty aroma as your guide.

Storage

Store Black Sesame Seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark and dry place.

Because seeds contain natural oils, keeping them protected from heat and light helps maintain their flavour and freshness.