Black Sesame Latte: 4 Ways with Strawberry & Matcha Cold Foam

Cozy up to a creamy and frothy black sesame latte in just 5 minutes – no frother machine or any fancy equipment required for this easy recipe. Enjoy this sesame drink 4 different ways; hot, iced or with an optional strawberry or matcha cold foam topping for a special teatime treat - the choice is yours!

Now, I know what you are thinking - black sesame seeds in my coffee? This flavored latte or sometimes called steamer is made with caffeine-free deeply nutty black sesame paste and your favorite non-dairy of choice – no espresso or coffee. But, if you wish, you could certainly add a shot or two of espresso or strong coffee.

What Does it Taste Like?

This black sesame latte has a creamy velvety texture with a unique nutty and earthy flavor. It’s destined to be your favorite beverage to unwind after a busy day.

Black Sesame Drink

Sweet dessert shops, like Tsui Yuen Dessert Shop in Hong Kong, offer a black sesame soup, ice cream and black sesame double steamed milk – a must try if you are ever visiting. But we wanted to enjoy these treats at home.  So, we began with testing the process with different methods and discovered many helpful recipe hints to share with you along the way.

Skip the fancy coffee house flavored lattes and make this delicious dairy free and gluten free alternative. You can make it healthier and more affordable at home. Use a blender, mason jar with a lid, French press or even a handheld frother to make a luscious frothy black sesame latte today. It’s time to channel your inner barista skills with this easy latte recipe. Let’s get to it!

Basic Ingredients

Black Sesame Seed Paste – This Asian Homemade paste is so much better than storebought.  You can exchange the paste with black sesame tahini or regular tahini but note that the sesame seeds are not roasted, nor sweetened.  Tahini is slightly bitter compared to a deeply roasted black sesame paste. 

Non-Dairy or Dairy of Choice – we used plant–based milk because dairy and lactose plays havoc on our digestive system. Plant - based milks like soy milk, almond milk, hemp milk, oat milk, etc. all work well and are a great vegan alternative.  Each plant-based milk adds a little different flavor profile to the latte. If you do not have a dairy sensitivity, feel free to use regular milk. 

Sweetener of Choice – Our homemade black sesame paste is already sweetened. However, you can add a little honey or none to suit your desired level of sweetness. Try maple syrup or even date paste to keep this sesame latte vegan or alternative sweetener of choice.

Dash of Salt – Optional but it brings out the natural sweetness of the black sesame seeds and balances the flavors.

Equipment Needed?

In the perfect world, we would all have an espresso machine with an integrated frother at home. But, realistically speaking, this is not a perfect world. You don’t need all that fancy equipment. If you have one of the following, you have everything you need to make this creamy and delicious black sesame latte at home.

1. Blender
2. Mason jar with a lid – and some strong muscles!
3. Handheld frother
4. Or even a French press

How to Make a Black Sesame Latte?

This recipe can be made either hot or iced (cold) depending on your preference. You can even add a delightful matcha or strawberry cold foam on top which we will cover in the next section.

HOT

• Heat up dairy or non-dairy milk of choice in a pan over low heat. Do not boil!
• Add black sesame paste, sweetener of choice and a dash of salt to the warmed milk and stir.
• Blend the hot black sesame milk until frothy. You can froth the latte with one of these 4 methods.
• Place hot black sesame milk in a blender. Cover and hold a tea towel over the top and blend until frothy.
• Carefully pour the hot sesame milk inside a mason jar with a lid. Close the lid and use a tea towel around it and proceed to shake the $%^& out of it until frothy.
• Use a handheld or portable frother. 
• Serve hot and enjoy!

Recipe Tip: Milk tastes the sweetest between 135-150°F (57-66°C).

COLD

• Heat up the black sesame paste in the microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds or until very soft and easy to stir.
• Add cold milk or non-dairy of choice, heated black sesame paste, sweetener of choice together.
• Froth until creamy in a blender, mason jar with lid or a handheld frother.
• Serve over ice and enjoy!

Recipe Tip: Heating the black sesame paste for 15 to 20 seconds or just until warm and soft makes it easier to incorporate into the dairy or non-dairy of choice.

What is Cold Foam?

Say hello to the new happening trend in the barista world – cold foam. This is an optional ingredient for our black sesame latte. However, it’s so darn good – why would you want to skip it?

Cold foam is light and frothy dairy or non-dairy based creamy topping for beverages like iced cappuccino, black sesame latte, Bumblebee coffee or a coconut chai tea latte . These creamy cloudlike delights can be sweetened and have added flavorings like vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin, chocolate, peppermint, strawberry and matcha – just to name a few.

Cold Foam vs Whipping Cream

You might be wondering, is cold foam just like whipped coconut cream or whipped topping? The answer is no. Cold foam can be formed rather quickly with less effort by getting air suspended within a combination of cream and milk or a non-dairy creamer. By default, cold foam only lasts between 30 minutes to a couple of hours before it starts to deflate back into a liquid state.

Whipped topping on the other hand, has more fat and requires a lot more energy and force to change the lipids structure from a liquid to soft solid state of whipped cream.  Because of the changes made to the structure within the fats, whipped topping can last at least 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator if stored properly.

How to Make Cold Foam Without a Frother?

Yes you can! You can make cold foam with some everyday items you probably already have in your home. The goal is to add air and volume to cream or a non-dairy cream quickly. The everyday blender, a French Press, hand mixer, whisk or even mason jar with a lid are 5 easy tools to use.

Quick Frothing Tip: Use COLD cream, milk, and cool instruments for the best frothing results.

Blender

The blender can easily froth cream on high speed in about 1 minute flat. Pour the COLD cream and additions in the blender. Put on the lid and blend on high for about 1 minute or until the cream doubles in volume. If you wait a few seconds, the foam will start to rise to the top.

French Press

A French press can double the volume of cream in about 30 seconds. Pour the COLD cream into the French press and raise and lower the plunger starting out slow and then advance quickly until you have a thick cream.

Quick Tip: Don’t overfill the French press as the cold foam will increase in size.

Mason Jar with Lid

The mason jar with a lid option is simple but effective way to froth cream. Pour the COLD cream and your additions into the mason jar with a lid. Shake vigorously for about 1 to 2 minutes or until the cream doubles in size.

Handheld Frother

A handheld frother is a relatively inexpensive device. If you have one, make sure you put the non-dairy creamer in a tall glass or mug as it will double in volume.

Mixer or Whisk

Using a small hand mixer or a whisk and deep bowl, beat the cream until soft frothy texture is reached. This is the messiest option for sure.

Strawberry Foam

Add a little pop of spring to your black sesame flavored latte with this light and fluffy delicately sweet pink strawberry foam. The nuttiness of black sesame with fresh strawberries is a must try combination. You only need 4 ingredients: strawberries, sugar or alternative sweetener of choice, a little water and cream or liquid non-dairy creamer of choice. Strawberry cold foam is an optional ingredient but a delicious way to celebrate the berry season.

How to Make Strawberry Foam?

• Add chopped strawberries, sugar or sweetener of choice, and a couple of tablespoons of water to a saucepan and cook over medium heat for approximately 10 to 15 minutes or until the strawberries break down.

• Mash the cooked strawberries over a fine mesh strainer to isolate the strawberry syrup. The remaining strawberries are delicious on toast, oatmeal, berry smoothie or even strawberry banana pancakes.

1. Froth cream and milk or your non-dairy barista blend creamer of choice. You can do this with a handheld frother, blender, French Press or even a mason jar with a lid.
2. Add the strawberry syrup to the frothed cream and continue frothing until well blended and a pretty pink color.
3. Add a dollop of strawberry cold foam to the top of a hot or iced black sesame latte and enjoy!

How to Make Matcha Cold Foam?

If you need a little calm focus, adding a little dollop of matcha cold foam to the top of your black sesame latte is the way to go. The green tea has earthy, grassy notes that are a nice complement to the flavored latte.

• Blend matcha with a little water with a whisk. If you plan on adding a sweetener like maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to your matcha cold foam, use warm water. Otherwise, you can use room temperature water or cold water to blend the matcha green tea.

• Froth cream and milk or your non-dairy barista blend creamer of choice. You can do this with a handheld frother, blender, French Press or even a mason jar with a lid.
• Add the matcha mixture to the frothed cream and continue frothing until well blended and a pretty light green color.
• Add a dollop of matcha foam to the top of a hot or iced black sesame latte and enjoy!

Cold Foam Hack: When making a dairy free cold foam, look for plant based non-dairy creamers that for signage “barista Blends” that are made specifically for making cold foam.

How to store?

Plain black sesame latte can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You will need to froth again as the creamy texture will return to a liquid state.

Variations in Latte Recipe

• Try a creamy and frothy black sesame latte hot with a sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds on top.
• Make an affogato and pour the latte over black sesame nice cream.
• Pour the black sesame latte over ice and enjoy cold.
• Top with a billowy cloud of strawberry foam
• Pour a creamy matcha cold foam on top.
• Top with both matcha and strawberry cold foam for a triple delight.
• Add in a shot or two of espresso in a glass followed by the black sesame latte.
• Make it into a bubble tea and add a few chewy boba balls (black tapioca pearls)
• Serve black sesame latte over a chai tea latte or your favorite black tea.
• Black sesame pairs well with vanilla, chocolate, and fresh fruits.

What to Serve with a Latte?

Lattes are a special treat all on their own. However served as an afternoon tea are delicious with a sweet treat like Sakura shortbread cookies, Welsh cakes, strawberry jam cookies , or egg tarts. If it is during the Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season, try serving with a sweet and savory isobeyaki mochi or mung bean daifuku mochi.

Decision Time

We love this black sesame latte recipe hot and iced. But we need your help. We can’t decide whether we love matcha or strawberry foam or more. Make this recipe today and let us know if the comments if you like one way better than the other.