Frequently Asked Questions

Tahini, also known as sesame paste or sesame butter, is a smooth, creamy spread made from ground sesame seeds. A staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking, tahini adds rich, nutty flavor and silky texture to everything from hummus and dressings to baked goods and desserts. It’s naturally plant-based, dairy-free, and packed with protein and minerals, making it a versatile ingredient for both savory and sweet recipes.

Soom Tahini stands out for its unmatched silky-smooth texture, balanced nutty flavor, and chef-trusted quality. Made from the world’s best premium sesame seeds used for tahini in particular, Soom delivers a mild, nutty taste and ultra-creamy texture that blends seamlessly into sauces, dips, smoothies, and baked goods. Unlike some tahini that can be bitter or gritty, Soom’s consistent, easy-to-mix texture makes it the preferred tahini for home cooks and award-winning chefs alike.

No, Soom Tahini is not raw. Our tahini is made from dry roasted sesame seeds, which enhances the nutty flavor while keeping the texture smooth and creamy. We never use oil — just sesame seeds.

Soom Tahini is crafted from hulled sesame seeds, meaning the outer shell of the seed is removed before grinding. This creates a smoother, creamier tahini with a more delicate flavor and lighter color — ideal for blending into dressings, drizzling on roasted veggies, or whisking into desserts.

Depending on the preferred consistency, Soom tahini can be stored in either the pantry or the fridge. For a smoother and more pourable texture, keep Soom tahini in a cool, dry pantry. If you prefer a nut butter-like consistency, keep Soom tahini in the fridge.

*Never place a wet or dirty spoon in the jar, it promotes bacterial growth! AKA rancid tahini.

Read more about storing tahini HERE

Soom tahini products have a 2-year best by date from the day it was pressed. We recommend using within 12 months of the purchase date.

The best by dates on our jars are in the format DD/MM/YY. So if your jar has a best by date of 18/1/25, it means it’s good until January 18th, 2025.

It’s totally normal for tahini to separate over time, with the natural sesame oil rising to the top. If your tahini has hardened or is difficult to stir, try these easy tips to bring it back to its smooth, creamy texture:

• Store the jar upside down in the pantry (with the lid tightly sealed). This allows the sesame oil to slowly trickle back into the paste, making it easier to re-emulsify, but it’s not a perfect solution.
  
  
• Use a sturdy spoon or immersion blender to mix directly in the jar until smooth. If the tahini is still too thick, transfer it to a blender or food processor and blend until creamy.

Read more about storing tahini HERE

If the chocolate or chocolate sea salt spread separates and becomes hard to stir, make it a warm bath! (No bubbles necessary.) Simply place warm-to-hot water in a bowl and place the jar of chocolate tahini with the lid screwed tightly into the warm bath. (Make sure that no water enters the jar.) Let sit for 3 to 5 minutes. The tahini will be much easier to stir.

Yes, that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be! Soom Tahini is purposely smooth, creamy, and pourable thanks to the grinding process and ratio of sesame oil to sesame seed “meat” of the seeds we use.

This silky consistency makes it easier to drizzle, blend, and bake, and it’s one of the reasons chefs love using Soom Tahini in both savory and sweet recipes.

Keep in mind that temperature affects texture: your tahini may feel thinner when stored in a warm pantry and thicker when kept in the refrigerator. Both are perfectly normal, just store Soom Tahini in a cool, dry place (or the fridge if you prefer a thicker texture).

The black spots are the tips of the little sesame seeds. Ethiopian White Humera sesame seeds have black tips that are still visible once they're ground. Because Soom products are 100% natural and crops vary each season, some jars have more specs than others. The spots tend to settle at the bottom, just give it a good stir before enjoying. It is 100% safe to eat.

Due to the natural effects of time and cold weather, our Chocolate Sea Salt Sesame Spread may experience oil separation, oil solidification, and salt crystallization.

Separation of oils from the other ingredients is a natural process because we do not use any emulsifiers, so over time the oil will begin to separate and float to the top of the mixture. The physics of this process can also cause the separated oil to form into circular or spherical shapes within the remaining mixture (just like when you see drops of oil in water). If the product has been exposed to colder temperatures, you may see solid spheres of oil in your product that might look concerning. However, be assured that the product is 100% natural and safe to consume!

Salt crystallization is a byproduct of this separation as well. This occurs when oil separates and some of the salt clings to it as it floats to the top, and collects around the edges as a crust that appears as white specks.

Our lables are made with a metallic film so the jar should not be microwaved with the label still attached. If you'd like to warm your tahini, place jar in a warm water bath or remove a portion of tahini and place it in a microwave safe container before heating.

We source our sesame seeds from Ethiopia.

Israel, in a facility located within the Green Line.

Soom Tahini in jars are manufactured in facilities where tree nuts and peanuts are not present.

Soom Tahini is made with mechanically-hulled sesame seeds.

Our premium and organic tahini are both made with White Humera sesame seeds, and manufactured using the same process. The texture and flavor is exactly the same! The only difference between these two products is that Soom Organic Tahini is USDA certified organic.

Yes, all Soom tahini jars are OU certified.

Soom Tahini is naturally free of gluten and does not contain gluten in the ingredients. The factories where Soom products are produced do not process gluten. However, Soom has not applied for gluten free certification.

Soom products do not contain soy in the ingredients. Our Chocolate and Chocolate Sea Salt Sesame Spreads are produced in a factory that also produces soy.

All Soom products are dairy free.

Soom products do not contain tree nuts or peanuts in the ingredients. Tahini in jars are produced in a facility that does NOT process tree nuts or peanuts.

Soom products do not contain any animal products and are vegan. Soom has not applied for vegan certification on any of our products.

Yes, all Soom's jars and bottles are BPA-free.

Both the 11oz and 16oz jars are made from PET. PET is #1 plastic for recycling purposes and if often recyclable in your curbside recycling.