Caramel tahini shake (using coconut sugar)

Let’s talk about tahini

Your first thought upon seeing the title of this caramel tahini shake recipe may well have been ‘what is tahini?’. So, let’s start with a brief introduction to this deliciously smooth and nutty ingredient.

Tahini is, quite simply, a paste or butter made from sesame seeds. You can buy it ready-made, or whip up your own by blending toasted sesame seeds with a little oil. The paste is a common ingredient in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, particularly dips like hummus and baba ganoush. It’s also possible to mix it with lemon, garlic and water to make a thinner condiment called tarator.

As you’ve probably guessed from the fact that we’ve used it in this caramel tahini shake recipe, you can add the paste to sweet dishes too. Tahini brings a gorgeous sesame flavour and beautiful creamy texture to treats like brownies, cakes, pastries, and ice cream. It might sound unusual, but trust us when we say that it works!

The flavour and nutritional content of tahini varies slightly depending on whether it’s made with hulled or unhulled seeds. Likewise, the amount that you roast the sesame seeds before blending them affects the taste of your tahini shake. And, of course, differences arise depending on whether you prepare tahini using white or black sesame seeds.

So, why would you want to make a tahini milkshake? There are several reasons. First, there’s tahini’s smooth texture and scrumptious toasty, nutty flavour. Then there are the numerous potential health benefits the ingredient offers. Prepare to be impressed…

The health benefits of tahini

From a tahini shake to hummus, using sesame paste in your cooking can add many nutritional benefits to a dish. For example, the paste is rich in several key vitamins and minerals. These include thiamine and B6, which are vital for energy production, as well as bone-supporting phosphorus and manganese. Tahini is additionally an excellent source of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.

Furthermore, tahini contains plenty of antioxidants, which defend our cells from free radical damage. This damage is known as oxidative stress, and experts have linked it to a number of harmful health conditions. Tahini is particularly high in a lignan called sesamin. Research suggests that sesamin protects our body’s cells and could even possess anti-cancer properties.(1)

What’s more, many of these potent antioxidants in your caramel tahini shake help to reduce inflammation. This is important because chronic inflammation may harm our health. Preliminary studies indicate that sesame could ease pain and inflammation associated with conditions like asthma and arthritis.(2) However, more investigation is necessary to clarify this.

A caramel tahini shake may also provide benefits for cardiovascular health. Research has found that adding sesame seeds to your diet can reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.(3) That’s good news because having too much of either raises the risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.

Excitingly, treating yourself to a caramel tahini shake might support the health of your brain too. Studies show that antioxidants in sesame seeds can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect brain and nerve cells from free radical damage.(4) The ingredient may even be able to reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, we need more research to confirm these findings.

Why use coconut sugar in your caramel tahini shake?

So far, we've focused on the sesame side of this tahini milkshake recipe. But what about the caramel? To get that rich sweetness, we’ve opted to use coconut sugar. This looks similar to brown sugar, and has a deep caramel flavour that works brilliantly in a tahini shake. And – while we’re not going to say it’s a health food – coconut sugar is a preferable option to white sugar.

Made from the sap of the coconut palm tree, coconut sugar goes through fairly minimal processing. As such, it retains small amounts of key minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc. It also has some antioxidant properties and contains a little fibre. However, don’t forget that coconut sugar is still high in calories – so don’t add too much to your tahini shake! Another modest advantage of choosing coconut sugar is that it may have a lower glycaemic index than regular sugar. This means it causes a smaller rise in blood glucose levels after you eat it.

We find that coconut sugar pairs beautifully with the banana in this caramel tahini shake recipe. But that’s not the only reason for adding this fruit to your blender. Bananas can support our digestive health by acting as a prebiotic, nourishing the good bacteria in your gut. Plus, their high potassium levels help to lower blood pressure, which could lessen the risk of heart disease.

Bananas are additionally a great source of sustained energy, and the potassium they contain may support muscle contraction.(5) That means this tahini shake might be a beneficial choice before hitting the gym or heading out for a hike.

An ode to oat milk

This is, of course, a tahini milkshake recipe. And as such, the milk plays a key role. There are plenty of fantastic varieties of plant-based milk to choose from, but this time, we’ve opted for oat. Here’s why.

First, oats are rich in a type of fibre called beta-glucan. This has several potential health benefits, including lowering levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.(6) LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries, limiting blood flow and increasing the chance of clots. Beta-glucan binds to cholesterol and reduces the amount of it you absorb, decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. So, using oat milk in your caramel tahini shake could mean the drink further benefits your cardiovascular health.

What’s more, oat milk – especially fortified varieties – contains a surprisingly impressive range of nutrients. For example, it’s bursting with B vitamins that can support energy levels, as well as skin and hair health. Many companies enrich their oat milk with these nutrients, making it a good vegan source of B12. Similarly, you’ll often find oat milk contains calcium and vitamin D, which are both essential for strong and healthy bones. Adding it to your tahini shake could also boost your intake of phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, and iron.

To get the maximum benefits from oat milk, we recommend using an unsweetened and unflavoured variety in your tahini shake. This will help you avoid any pesky added sugar. You could even try making your own oat milk at home! Just remember it will be lower in vitamins and minerals than those oat milks that are enriched with such nutrients.

How to make this tahini milkshake recipe

Ok, that’s enough about the ingredients! We know the recipe has the potential to be good for you. So now let’s talk about how to make this gorgeous caramel tahini shake. It will please you to hear that it’s both quick and easy to whip up a glass or two of the drink.

Start by adding two cups of frozen banana to a blender. This helps to create a creamy texture and makes your tahini shake refreshingly cool. Next, pop in two tablespoons of coconut sugar and two tablespoons of tahini. It’s up to you if you want to use shop-bought tahini or have a go at making your own! Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top, then tip in a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Feel free to adjust the amount of both so that the flavour of the tahini shake perfectly suits your preferences.

Finally, it’s time for the secret ingredient: our organic W40+ plant-based powder. Add two teaspoons to the mixture, then pour in 370ml of oat milk. Of course, you can use a different variety – such as coconut, soya, or almond – if you like. It’s also possible to adjust the amount of milk to get a slightly thicker or thinner tahini shake.

Blend the ingredients together until they reach a velvety smooth texture and uniform cream colour. Pour your tahini shake into glasses, garnish them with a dusting of coconut sugar, and enjoy! We recommend drinking your milkshake while it’s still fresh and chilled. However, you can store it in the fridge for later if you’ve made a bigger batch.

Introducing our W40+ powder

What sets this caramel tahini shake apart from other recipes is the inclusion of our organic W40+ powder. This functional food is made up of a unique blend of plants we’ve specially chosen to support women’s wellbeing. These include adaptogenic Ayurvedic herbs like ashwagandha and shatavari, along with sea buckthorn, almond, cacao, lucuma, and nettle leaf. We’ve carefully curated these ingredients to ensure they are both effective and compatible with each other.

Rich in flavonoids, phytoestrogens, and key vitamins and minerals, W40+ benefits female wellness in a wealth of ways. Adding it to your tahini shake could support energy levels, promote relaxation, and even ease symptoms of menstruation and menopause. It can also enhance the health of your hair and skin.

We source every single ingredient directly from independent farmers, who cultivate them using organic techniques. They grind each one into powder, and we then combine these in our factory in small batches. We pack the powder into environmentally friendly amber glass jars that preserve freshness, and ship it to your door. Please recycle the jars once they’re empty to help us minimise our impact on the planet.

The cacao, lucuma, almond and cinnamon in W40+ make it a perfect addition to this caramel tahini shake recipe. However, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate it into your diet. For example, try mixing a teaspoon into a smoothie, yoghurt, breakfast bowl, or your favourite hot drink. You’ll find that the powder’s subtle hints of earthy citrus complement a wide range of flavours.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, please speak to a doctor before adding any functional food to your diet. The same applies if you have an existing health condition or are taking any medication.

Customising your tahini milkshake recipe

We want you to enjoy this caramel tahini shake as much as possible. If that means mixing up the ingredients to better suit your palate, we highly encourage you to do so! One easy option is to add some extra garnishes to the glass. For instance, fresh berries make a fabulously fruity addition, while cacao nibs give the drink some crunch. You might also like to dust a little cinnamon or cacao powder on top. This can help to bring out the flavour of the W40+ powder. Alternatively, sprinkle on some black or white sesame seeds to highlight the taste of the tahini.

You can also play around with the principal ingredients of this tahini shake. For example, you could add a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder to make it more chocolatey. If you don’t have coconut sugar to hand, liquid sweeteners like agave nectar or maple syrup are good replacements. Conversely, an extra sprinkle of sea salt results in more of a salted caramel tahini shake. Meanwhile, using a scoop of vegan ice cream in place of some of the oat milk will give you a thicker texture. You even have the option to add a splash of coffee to create a mocha tahini shake!

With its sweet flavour and refreshing feel, this caramel tahini shake can be a great pick-me-up during a mid-afternoon slump. Plus, it’s bursting with nutrients that keep you energised and support overall wellbeing. While a milkshake might sound like a drink for kids, the inclusion of tahini gives this recipe a definite grown-up vibe. Even if you sip it through a straw!