FOOD
(Better Than Regular Hot Chocolate)
Whether you are in a cold country or lucky enough to see sunshine all year round, this tahini hot chocolate is the perfect end to your evening. Its rich, creamy, nutty, and has this depth that regular hot chocolate just doesn't have. The tahini adds a subtle sesame flavor that sounds weird until you taste it, and then you'll never go back to having it without. We're always looking for ways to make our everyday life more lux, from rich life budgeting to bougie hand wash and an upgraded hot chocolate fits right in.
Why We Love Tahini
Tahini is made from grinding sesame seeds, so it's naturally thick and a little bit savoury, like peanut butter got a glow up. It's been used in Middle Eastern cooking for ever and what makes hummus hummus to be frank but when you add tahini to hot chocolate, it makes it silkier and gives a subtle grown up complexity that regular hot chocolate doesn't have.
It also adds healthy fats and protein, so this isn't just a sugar and milk drink. You're getting something more substantial, more satisfying, and it keeps you fuller longer than a standard hot chocolate would. We might be selling it a bit to ourselves here, but if we can pass it off as a wellness drink then winner.
The Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole milk (or oat milk for dairy-free)
- 2 tbsp good quality cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp tahini (make sure it's well-stirred before you add, the oil separates)
- 1-2 tsp raw honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: tiny pinch of cinnamon or cardamom
Method:
Warm your milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Don't boil it, just get it hot.
While the milk is warming, put the cocoa powder, tahini, honey, salt, and vanilla in your mug. Add a splash of the warm milk and whisk it together until it's smooth and no lumps remain. This step matters - if you don't mix it properly first, you'll get clumps of cocoa powder.
Once it's smooth, pour in the rest of the warm milk and whisk everything together until it's fully combined and frothy.
Taste and adjust sweetness if needed. Some people like it less sweet, some want more. Start with less honey and add more if you want.
If you're adding cinnamon or cardamom, sprinkle it on top now.
Optional Upgrades
Make it extra creamy: Use half milk, half cream. It's indulgent but worth it for a weekly lil treat.
Add a shot of espresso if you have it in the morning: Tahini mocha. The coffee enhances the chocolate and the tahini works beautifully with both.
Top with whipped cream and sesame seeds: If you're going full luxury, whip some cream, top your hot chocolate, and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top for texture and a nod to the tahini.
Spike it: Add a shot of dark rum or whiskey for an adult version.
This isn't just hot chocolate with tahini thrown in for the sake of being different. The tahini genuinely makes it better - richer, creamier, more complex, more satisfying. It's the kind of drink you make when you want something comforting but elevated.