Black Sesame Ice Cream — intensely nutty Japanese sesame gelato
Black sesame ice cream is one of the most striking Japanese ice creams — a deep slate-grey from the paste of toasted black sesame seeds, intensely nutty, with a faint smoky bitterness that makes it distinctly more interesting than vanilla. It is a fixture of Japanese ice-cream shops and is increasingly common worldwide.
i. Origin & history
Black sesame (kuro goma) has been a key ingredient in Japanese and Chinese cooking for centuries. The ice-cream application is modern — likely mid-to-late 20th century — but builds on the much older Chinese tradition of black-sesame sweet soup.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 8 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 100 g black sesame seeds
- 400 ml whole milk
- 300 ml double cream
- 120 g caster sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp black sesame paste (optional, for intensity)
iii. Method
- Toast black sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until they crackle and smell intensely nutty (3-4 minutes). Cool slightly, then grind to a fine paste in a food processor or grinder — about 5 minutes.
- Warm milk, cream, and half the sugar to just-simmering.
- Whisk yolks with remaining sugar until pale. Temper with warm dairy, then cook over low heat to 82 °C, stirring constantly.
- Whisk the sesame paste (and extra paste if using) into the hot custard. Strain. Chill 4 hours.
- Churn until thick. Freeze 3 hours to firm.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Toast properly. Pale sesame gives a thin ice cream; properly toasted sesame gives depth.
- Grind to paste. Whole or partly-ground seeds get caught in the teeth.
- Salt is important. A pinch sharpens the sesame's nuttiness; too little and it tastes flat.
v. Variations
White sesame ice cream uses untoasted white seeds for a paler, sweeter result. Pair with miso caramel or honey for a Japanese-Western dessert plate. Black sesame + matcha is a popular two-flavour scoop.
vi. Common questions
What is black sesame ice cream?
Black Sesame Ice Cream is intensely nutty japanese sesame gelato, from japanese cuisine. It is a fixture of Japanese ice-cream shops and is increasingly common worldwide
Where is black sesame ice cream from?
Black Sesame Ice Cream is from the japanese dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does black sesame ice cream keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 2 weeks frozen.