Ingredient guide · dossier № 29
Tahini
MB2 · Ambrosia Activationoptionalnut & seed
Stone-ground, single-ingredient organic sesame — hulled for a smooth, non-bitter pour that blends into a drink; unhulled is more mineral-rich but noticeably bitter.
Where to buy
- Soom Foods~$15 / 16 oz organic tahini (2-pack ~$30 on Amazon); price approximate as of July 2026Single-source Ethiopian White Humera sesame, roasted and stone-milled; the chef-favorite, now with a certified organic line
- Seed + Mill$9.90 / 10.93 oz organic tahini (iHerb)Organic single-origin Ethiopian sesame, stone-ground in small batches; NYC halva maker
- Baron's~$20-24 / 2-pack of 16 oz jars (Amazon); price approximate as of July 2026USDA Organic pure sesame paste, kosher; the budget organic pick
- Kevala$9.64 / 16 oz organic sesame tahini (iHerb)USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project verified, hulled sesame, glass jar; best organic $/oz
Role in the beverage
The second nut-and-seed option (rank 17): a small spoonful of tahini gives the ambrosia a silkier body than almond butter, plus a halva-like toasted note that is remarkable with cacao and honey (the flavor logic of chocolate halva, in a cup). It also brings calcium and lignans (sesamin).
Quality criteria
Single ingredient: sesame (organic). The craft markers are stone grinding — traditional basalt millstones grind at low temperature, giving pourable, silky tahini that doesn’t set like concrete — and seed origin, with Ethiopian White Humera sesame the acknowledged gold standard (both Soom and Seed + Mill use it). Hulled vs unhulled: hulled (all four vendors below) is smooth, pale, and sweet-nutty — right for a beverage; unhulled/whole-seed tahini keeps the bran (more calcium and fiber) but is gritty and distinctly bitter, which fights the honey. Good tahini separates; stir and store upside down. Sesame is also a top-9 allergen now under FASTER Act labeling — relevant if the archive feeds guests.
Where to buy
Soom Foods (soomfoods.com) is the tahini beloved by chefs — single-sourced Ethiopian White Humera seeds, roasted and pressed by three Philadelphia sisters. They now sell a certified organic 16 oz jar alongside the classic premium line; roughly $15 per jar direct, with an Amazon 2-pack around $30 — price approximate as of July 2026 (their product pages resisted fetching).
Seed + Mill (seedandmill.com), the NYC halva company, stone-grinds organic single-origin Ethiopian sesame in small batches; their 10.93 oz organic tahini was $9.90 at iHerb (verified July 2026), similar direct.
Baron’s (via Amazon) is the pantry-scale budget organic: USDA Organic pure ground sesame, kosher, sold in 2- and 4-packs of 16 oz jars — the 2-pack typically lands around $20-24, price approximate as of July 2026.
Kevala (kevala.net) organic sesame tahini, 16 oz glass jar, USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project verified: $9.64 at iHerb (verified July 2026) — the best organic value per ounce, and available in 8 lb and 36 lb bulk if tahini becomes a house staple.
Backpacking form
Tahini’s high oil content makes jars leak-prone in a pack. For the dry mix, use organic sesame seed flour (defatted ground sesame) — it hydrates instantly in hot water and keeps the halva note. Alternatively decant tahini into a small screw-top squeeze tube, or carry toasted sesame seeds and mash a spoonful in camp; the seeds themselves are indefinitely shelf-stable.