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The Best Tahini

Finding the best tahini can be a real grind.

Top Pick

WinnerZiyad Tahini Sesame Paste

“Tastes like the real stuff,” said one taster. In both tastings, our new favorite had “distinct,” “intense sesame flavor” that was neither bitter nor harsh. Its “smooth” and fluid consistency made for exceptionally “creamy,” “buttery” hummus.
Source: USAIngredients: Mechanically hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.59 for 16-oz jar ($0.47 per oz)
“Tastes like the real stuff,” said one taster. In both tastings, our new favorite had “distinct,” “intense sesame flavor” that was neither bitter nor harsh. Its “smooth” and fluid consistency made for exceptionally “creamy,” “buttery” hummus.
Source: USAIngredients: Mechanically hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.59 for 16-oz jar ($0.47 per oz)

What You Need to Know

Tahini is a potent paste made from toasted sesame seeds; it’s similar in texture to natural peanut butter. Apart from being a core ingredient in hummus, tahini is often thinned with water or lemon juice and drizzled over falafelkebabspilaf, and roasted or raw vegetables in Middle Eastern recipes. Sesame seeds are generally the sole ingredient—so how different could competing tahinis be? To find out, we tasted seven products, plain and in hummus.

Right off the bat, our tasters noticed big differences in flavor in the plain tasting, calling our preferred tahinis “toasty” and “nutty” and lower-scoring tahinis “bitter” and “sour.” Flavor discrepancies were less evident in hummus. Although tahini can be made with whole sesame seeds, most manufacturers use seeds that have their outer coatings (hulls) removed before grinding. The hulls contain bitter compounds called oxalates that can be the source of those unpleasant flavors (seeds with the hulls intact are also harder to grind to a smooth consistency). Overroasting the seeds is another factor that can lead to bitterness. Off-flavors can also be the result of rancidity from poor handling or storage of the seeds.

smears of tahini labelled by their brand
The textures of the tahinis varied widely, from thin and smooth to thick and coarse.

Consistency was another important factor. Sesame seeds are 50 percent oil by weight, which is very similar to the oil content of peanuts. As with natural peanut butter, the oil in tahini typically separates from the paste at room temperature. For some products, a gentle stir was enough to reincorporate the components and form a fairly smooth, fluid tahini that poured neatly from the container. But other options were gritty or so thick that we had to scrape them from their containers with a metal spoon or stiff spatula. The thickest tahini was simultaneously dry and damp, like wet sand. Even after a spin in the food processor, the thick and grainy tahinis produced hummus that was also thick and slightly grainy. While the chickpeas and oil had covered up the biggest textural differences, they couldn’t conceal them completely, and those products earned spots at the bottom of our rankings. Tasters much preferred the “silky,” “buttery” texture of hummus made with smooth, fluid tahini.

Our new favorite, Ziyad Tahini Sesame Paste, is made with hulled sesame seeds and is fairly pale in color, indicating gentle roasting. Tasters loved its “strong, clean tahini flavor.” It was also one of the smoothest products in our lineup, so hummus made it with had a “lush,” “silky” consistency that made it our clear favorite.

Associate editors Kate Shannon, left, and Miye Bromberg portion samples of hummus for a blind taste test.
Associate editors Kate Shannon, left, and Miye Bromberg portion samples of hummus for a blind taste test.

  • Taste plain (stirred gently before serving to reincorporate components)
  • Taste in Restaurant-Style Hummus

  • Made from hulled sesame seeds
  • Fairly light in color, indicating that the sesame seeds haven’t been overroasted, which can lead to bitter flavors
  • Smooth, creamy consistency
03:14

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Everything We Tested

Recommended

WinnerZiyad Tahini Sesame Paste

“Tastes like the real stuff,” said one taster. In both tastings, our new favorite had “distinct,” “intense sesame flavor” that was neither bitter nor harsh. Its “smooth” and fluid consistency made for exceptionally “creamy,” “buttery” hummus.
Source: USAIngredients: Mechanically hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.59 for 16-oz jar ($0.47 per oz)
“Tastes like the real stuff,” said one taster. In both tastings, our new favorite had “distinct,” “intense sesame flavor” that was neither bitter nor harsh. Its “smooth” and fluid consistency made for exceptionally “creamy,” “buttery” hummus.
Source: USAIngredients: Mechanically hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.59 for 16-oz jar ($0.47 per oz)

Roland Tahini Pure Sesame Paste

Sampled plain, the only Israeli import in our lineup tasted “very roasty” and had “deep sesame flavor.” In hummus, that flavor translated to “subtle nutty background notes.” Tasters also approved of its “very smooth,” “almost whipped” consistency.
Source: IsraelIngredients: Pure ground sesame seedSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $6.44 for 16-oz jar ($0.40 per oz)
Sampled plain, the only Israeli import in our lineup tasted “very roasty” and had “deep sesame flavor.” In hummus, that flavor translated to “subtle nutty background notes.” Tasters also approved of its “very smooth,” “almost whipped” consistency.
Source: IsraelIngredients: Pure ground sesame seedSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $6.44 for 16-oz jar ($0.40 per oz)

Kevala Organic Sesame Tahini

Tasters liked this tahini’s “bold sesame flavor” and thought that its hummus tasted “authentic.” Even though it had a slightly “grainy” quality that was absent in our favorites, it was still pleasantly “creamy” and earned high marks for texture.
Source: USAIngredients: 100% hulled organic sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.81 per 16-oz jar ($0.49 per oz)
Tasters liked this tahini’s “bold sesame flavor” and thought that its hummus tasted “authentic.” Even though it had a slightly “grainy” quality that was absent in our favorites, it was still pleasantly “creamy” and earned high marks for texture.
Source: USAIngredients: 100% hulled organic sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.81 per 16-oz jar ($0.49 per oz)

Recommended with reservations

Krinos Tahini

Tasters loved the “smooth, rich consistency” of hummus made with this tahini; it was the flavor that drew criticism. Tasters noticed a slight “sour,” “musty” quality that distracted from the straightforward flavors of tahini and chickpeas.
Source: USAIngredients: Ground sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: Not disclosedPrice at Time of Testing: $6.99 for 16-oz jar ($0.44 per oz)
Tasters loved the “smooth, rich consistency” of hummus made with this tahini; it was the flavor that drew criticism. Tasters noticed a slight “sour,” “musty” quality that distracted from the straightforward flavors of tahini and chickpeas.
Source: USAIngredients: Ground sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: Not disclosedPrice at Time of Testing: $6.99 for 16-oz jar ($0.44 per oz)

Joyva Sesame Tahini

Our former winner is more intensely flavored than some of its competitors. As a result, hummus made with it had an especially “strong roasted flavor.” Some tasters approved, but others thought that the tahini “dominated the hummus.” The tahini was also slightly “gritty.”
Source: USAIngredients: Creamy puree of roasted sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.49 for 15-oz tin ($0.50 per oz)
Our former winner is more intensely flavored than some of its competitors. As a result, hummus made with it had an especially “strong roasted flavor.” Some tasters approved, but others thought that the tahini “dominated the hummus.” The tahini was also slightly “gritty.”
Source: USAIngredients: Creamy puree of roasted sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $7.49 for 15-oz tin ($0.50 per oz)

Once Again Tahini

Hummus made with this tahini had “very deep, nutty flavor” that our tasters liked. Unfortunately, it wasn’t ground finely enough for everyone on our panel. Both plain and in hummus, it was slightly “gritty” and “grainy.”
Source: USAIngredients: Organically grown, dry-roasted, mechanically hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $8.99 for 16-oz jar ($0.56 per oz)
Hummus made with this tahini had “very deep, nutty flavor” that our tasters liked. Unfortunately, it wasn’t ground finely enough for everyone on our panel. Both plain and in hummus, it was slightly “gritty” and “grainy.”
Source: USAIngredients: Organically grown, dry-roasted, mechanically hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $8.99 for 16-oz jar ($0.56 per oz)

Woodstock Sesame Tahini, Organic, Unsalted

Very “dry” and “coarse,” this tahini stood out in our plain tasting. It also made for a very “thick” hummus, which some tasters enjoyed. It was “mild” and “muted,” and tasters wished it were more intensely flavored.
Source: USAIngredients: Organic dry roasted hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $11.99 for 16-oz jar ($0.75 per oz)
Very “dry” and “coarse,” this tahini stood out in our plain tasting. It also made for a very “thick” hummus, which some tasters enjoyed. It was “mild” and “muted,” and tasters wished it were more intensely flavored.
Source: USAIngredients: Organic dry roasted hulled sesame seedsSesame Seeds Hulled: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $11.99 for 16-oz jar ($0.75 per oz)

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!

The Expert

Author: Kate Shannon Levine

byKate Shannon Levine

Editorial Director, ATK Reviews

Kate is the editorial director for ATK Reviews. She's a culinary school graduate and former line cook and cheesemonger.

Kate Shannon Levine is the editorial director for ATK Reviews. She’s covered a wide variety of topics at America’s Test Kitchen, but she especially loves writing about cheese, pantry staples such as anchovies and kosher salt, and cleaning products. One of her proudest accomplishments is finding a life-changing kitchen sponge (really) and proving once and for all that it's a bad idea to leave a soggy sponge in the bottom of your sink. Prior to joining America’s Test Kitchen, she attended Boston University’s culinary program and worked as both a line cook and a cheesemonger.

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