Green tea will forever remind me of Arashiyama, Kyoto. Home tothe famed Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji Temple, the crowds come in droves to Arashiyama daily, but he whocomes must also return home, and that’s when the beauty of this incredible placetruly comes alive.
Coming direct from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Arashiyama is like a botanistsdream. While the incredible sights and sounds of the Tsukiji fish market did much to heighten our senses, Arashiyama did much to imbibe our souls with a sense that all is right with the world.
The day arrival by trainsaw us met by many a tourist clambering across the cobble stones in ‘traditional’ kimonos, socks and wooden shoes they had hired for the day. They clippity-cloppedthrough the temple gardens and bamboo grove chattering with glee and delighted when people asked them for a photo.
I was disappointed, thinking we wouldn’t get a moment to ourselves, but the temple gardens are large and explore them we did.The bamboo grove was crowded beyond belief and so a plan was hatched to return at 6am the following morning knowing we were staying at a nearby ryokan. Our plan paid off as the ethereal nature of the grove was finally revealed to us with the sun peeking through the bamboo, justbefore the trains started delivering tourists.
The decision tospend a night at Arashimaya Benkei was an indulgence that I wasn’t sure would pay off. But we went all out and booked a river view room with a traditional kaiseki meal, slept on tatami mats and soaked in both our private bath, and a private onsen. The Kaiseki meal was art – challenging to eat at times, deliciously satisfying at others, but alwaysthought provoking.
Sitting in our room, overlooking boats put-put past us on the gorgeous Hozu-gawa River, drinking green tea, and talking about life, made this one of our best travelling experiences – with Arashimaya one of our favourite locations.
Our trip to Japan was almost a year ago now and I find my mind wandering back to Arashiyama. So much so that I recently felt the need to create something in honour of its beauty. Thisice cream sandwich with black sesame no-churn ice cream and green tea and black sesame biscuits just somehow felt like the right fit.
The cookies are sweet and slightly salty with the unmistakable hit of matcha, and the homemade black sesame ice cream is a little sweeter than store bought black sesame ice cream because it uses the no churn method (saving you oodles of time and effort).
While these can be made up and kept in the freezer until you are ready to eat them (they make 10 in total), I fear they will not last long. Like us, you may well find an excuse to eat them every night after dinner.
Black Sesame and Green Tea Ice Cream Sandwiches
Ingredients
Black Sesame Ice Cream
- 1 x 395g tin sweetened condensed milk
- 6 tablespoons black sesame paste (purchased from asian supermarkets)
- 1/2 cup black sesame seeds, toasted
- 2 cups thickened cream
Green Tea and Black Sesame Biscuits
- 250g plain flour
- 2 heaped tablespoons matcha powder (green tea)
- 170g unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup icing sugar
- Pinch sea salt flakes
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup black sesame seeds
Directions
NO-CHURN BLACK SESAME ICE CREAM
Combine the condensed milk and store bought black sesame paste in a bowland mix until well combined.
Place toasted black sesame seeds in a spice grinder and grind to a paste, then set aside.
Whip thickened cream in a separate bowl until firm peaks form, then stir in 3 tablespoons of the condensed milkmixture and stir till combined. Add the remaining condensed milk mixture and the fresh black sesame paste and fold into the mixture till just combined (the fresh black sesame paste will stir into the mixture in delicious chunks).
Pour into a lined jelly roll pan and freeze overnight.
GREEN TEA AND BLACK SESAME BISCUITS
Preheat oven to 180° Celsius (350° Fahrenheit).
Sift the flour and matcha powder together into a bowl and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer combine butter, icing sugar and salt and beatuntil pale yellow(about 5-7 minutes). Add the egg yolks one at a time with the mixer running until combined, then add the flour and matcha powder a little at time until the mixture iseven in colour and becomes a soft crumbly dough.
Turn out the dough and shape into one 8cm diameter log. Sprinkle the black sesame evenly in one layer on a baking tray and then roll the outside of the log in black sesame so that it coats the outside. Wrap the dough tightly in clingwrap and chill for 30 minutes in the freezer until firm enough to slice.
Slice the log into 20 even slices (about 1cm thick) and place onto paper lined baking trays leaving space between them for spread. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the edges darken, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
ASSEMBLY
Use achef's ring the size of the biscuits tocut 10 circles of black sesame icecream. Sandwich eachice cream round between two green tea and black sesame biscuits and then wrap in baking paper and store in the freezer until ready to eat!
FAQs
How should I bake with black sesame? Myo notes that its flavor profile is complementary to warm flavors like vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate. In the form of seeds, it can add a new dimension to homemade granola; streusels for coffeecakes, muffins, loaves, or cobblers; and buttery cookies like sugar and shortbread.
What goes with black sesame ice cream? ›
Although this ice cream is so good on its own, we love to add fresh seasonal berries. Black sesame goes particularly well with berries or fruit with a little acidity to bring out the flavours. Enjoy with fresh strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blueberries - all with a little acidity.
What is the flavor of black sesame ice cream? ›
The flavor and color of this ice cream hinge on high-quality Japanese-style black sesame paste, which is made from roasted, un-hulled black sesame seeds. The jet-black paste is rich, intensely nutty, and pleasantly bitter, like dark chocolate.
Is black sesame ice cream good? ›
Black Sesame ice cream is one of the most delicious, nutty and aromatic ice cream flavours! Learn how to make the most delicious black sesame ice cream using an easy no churn method. This is intensely flavoured with black sesame and super easy!
What does black sesame flavor taste like? ›
Black sesame flavor in desserts or boba tea tastes like black sesames seeds—but sweet. It's nutty and ever so slightly bitter and earthy with a round, brown sugar sweetness.
Why is black sesame so good? ›
The high value of protein and fats found in black sesame seeds compared to a relatively low value of carbohydrates makes these seeds an ideal food to help regulate your blood sugar. One systemic review from 2021 found that sesame consumption helps to decrease glycemic indices, particularly in patients with diabetes.
What is black Hawaii ice cream? ›
Black Hawaii the black ice cream revolution created by Prodotti Rubicone. Natural black color thanks to charcoal. Unique taste with coconut water and raw cocoa beans. Lactose free, gluten free, with prebiotic fibers. Beneficial detox effect.
Should I refrigerate black sesame? ›
Once opened, black sesame seeds maintain their quality for about six months to one year if stored correctly in the pantry. Refrigeration can further extend their shelf life, allowing them to stay fresh for potentially up to two years after opening.
What are good ice cream combinations? ›
If you feel like experiencing something new, the following ideas will help.
- Buttered Popcorn. Perfect for a movie night. ...
- Chocolate and Coconut. ...
- Salted Nutella. ...
- Chocolate and Vanilla. ...
- Coffee and Oreo. ...
- Peanut Butter and Jelly. ...
- Lemon Sorbet and Cheesecake. ...
- The co*ke Float.
TikToker Goes Viral For Explaining How Butter Pecan Ice Cream Became A Cultural Favorite Among Black People.
The flavour of charcoal coconut and chocolate.
Where is black sesame ice cream from? ›
Creamy, nutty, sweet, and somewhat savory, this homemade Black Sesame Ice Cream has got it all! Enjoy the unique flavor of Japanese ice cream at home with my easy recipe.
Why is black sesame expensive? ›
Black sesame seeds are often significantly more expensive than white sesame seeds due to the perception that they have higher nutritional value. Still, the evidence supporting the difference in nutritional density is inconclusive at best.
What does black sesame do for your hair? ›
How Black Sesame Seeds Can Help Treat Hair Loss. Black sesame seeds are rich in nutrients that are essential for hair growth, including vitamins A, B, and E, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, and essential fatty acids. These nutrients help to nourish the hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth.
Is black sesame anti aging? ›
5. Anti-aging properties. The potent antioxidants present in black sesame seeds help combat free radicals, preventing oxidative stress and slowing down the ageing process.
What do black sesame seeds go with? ›
Ways to Enjoy Black Sesame Seeds
Sprinkled onto salads and soups. Tossed into vegetable, noodle, or rice dishes. Used as a crust for protein options like fish, chicken, tofu, or rice paper parcels. Blended into a black sesame tahini to be added to dressings, dips, and sauces.
What to eat black sesame paste with? ›
The black sesame paste I use here has become one of my standbys. I typically make extra for use on salads, broccoli, spinach, green beans, edamame, even roasted potatoes.
What tastes good with sesame seeds? ›
What Goes well with Sesame?
- Fruit and Vegetables. Asparagus, broccolini, Brussels sprouts, chilli, coriander, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, ginger, lime, persimmon, spinach, sugar snap peas, yuzu, zucchini.
- Herbs, Nuts and Spices. ...
- Protein and Other. ...
- Wombok Salad Recipe with Red Cabbage and Apple.
Sesame seeds work particularly well with chicken and other meats and in warm salads and salad dressings. They also add a distinctive flavour to stir-fried and rice dishes. Ground sesame seeds are used to make tahini, a smooth paste commonly added to Middle Eastern dishes.
