Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds, widely used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and North African cuisines. It has a rich, slightly bitter, nutty flavor and a smooth, pourable consistency. Tahini is a key ingredient in hummus and halva, and is increasingly popular in Western cooking and baking for its distinctive flavor and nutritional profile, offering healthy fats, protein, calcium, and iron.
In Dubai chocolate variations, tahini serves as either a complementary flavor or an alternative to pistachio cream. A thin layer of tahini swirled into the pistachio filling adds depth and a subtle sesame undertone that pairs beautifully with chocolate. Some recipes use tahini as the primary filling for a more affordable version of Dubai chocolate, often mixed with honey, sea salt, and toasted knafeh strands. The combination of tahini and dark chocolate is particularly popular among those who prefer less sweet confections.