What Does Tahini Taste Like? Tahini, also called “tahina” in some countries, may look a little like peanut butter, but it doesn’t taste like it. Tahini isn’t sweet like most nut butters, and the nutty flavor is strong and earthy, and can be a little bitter.

Why does tahini taste so bad?

Tahini is a potent paste made from toasted sesame seeds; it’s similar in texture to natural peanut butter. … 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).

Why does tahini taste so good?

Great tahini is made with fresh, top quality sesame seeds. It tastes like a crushed sesame seed: nutty, earthy and rich, with a hint of bitterness. Bad tahini is dank, murky, old, bland — and so far from delicious that it doesn’t warrant a second taste. Note that we only tasted tahini made with sesame seeds and salt.