My big travel goal is to make it to Brazil within the next couple of years – I mean, who wouldn’t love seeing the culture, catching a soccer game, enjoying the amazing landscapes, and eating…nut butter?
You bet! There’s this awesome spread coming out of Brazil called Brazil nut butter (there are no mysteries in that name). It’s making a great impression in the keto community with its low carb content, and has a delicious taste and consistency!
We’ll be comparing that to tahini, which is that main ingredient in the popular and delicious dip, hummus! It boasts a unique texture, and really holds its own as a spread!
Deciding which one of these is better may be tough, but don’t worry! We’ll lay everything out from nutritional profiles, flavors, textures, culinary uses, and more, so that you can confidently decide which of these spreads is for you!
Let’s dive in!
Comparing Brazil nut butter vs tahini
Brazil nut butter is made from nuts, giving it tree nuts as an allergen. Tahini, on the other hand, is made from sesame seeds, giving it sesame as an allergen. Both spreads share milder flavor profiles, and have a similar creaminess to them. They’re also both really versatile, working in vegan, paleo, and keto diets!
If you’re worried about your blood sugar levels spiking, both spreads have low glycemic indexes, which is great. However, talk to your physician if you have any concerns with that!
| Brazil nut butter | Tahini (sesame seed butter) | |
| Taste | Mild, buttery | Mildly nutty, toasty, slightly bitter |
| Texture | Creamy, smooth | Thin, creamy |
| Allergens | Tree nuts | Sesame |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | Yes | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Brazil nuts=10 | 40 |
What is Brazil nut butter?
Brazil nut butter is simply made by grinding Brazil nuts down into a smooth and creamy spread, boasting a mild and buttery taste.
The nuts are usually roasted first, which enhances their flavor, and salt is added in the final product. The minimal ingredients make it really easy to make Brazil nut butter at home!
Another cool thing about this spread is that it’s full of selenium, which is a mineral important in promoting a healthy immune system. Just enjoy it in moderation, as too much selenium can cause some health problems – talk to your physician if you have any concerns!
What is tahini?
Tahini is a Middle Eastern condiment boasting a mild, slightly nutty, toasty, and slightly bitter flavor profile. It’s made by grinding sesame seeds down into a thin and creamy paste, and has no nuts in it! And while you can use it to make hummus, you can also make your own tahini at home, giving you a ton of control over what ingredients are added!
Differences between Brazil nut butter and tahini
The biggest differences between Brazil nut butter and tahini are their tastes and textures.
Brazil nut butter boasts a mild, light, and buttery flavor that won’t overpower other ingredients, while tahini also has a mild taste that’s nutty, toasty, and slightly bitter.
Looking at their textures, Brazil nut butter has a very smooth and creamy texture, while tahini also has a creamy texture, although it’s much thinner than Brazil nut butter, making it the perfect choice for drizzling over things!
We’ll take a closer look at their nutritional differences in just a bit!
How to use Brazil nut butter vs tahini
Both Brazil nut butter and tahini work great as spreads on toast, pancakes, waffles, and bakes, but you could actually use them as ingredients IN your bakes, providing their flavors to your delicious creations! You can also mix them into your smoothies, oatmeal, salads, and pastas, adding some creativity!
Tahini’s texture makes it great for drizzling over things, so experiment with that!
Brazil nut butter can be used to make Brazil nut milk at home, which is a delicious alternative to other milk!
Nutrition: Brazil nut butter vs tahini
Brazil nut butter has a lot of healthy fats, and very few carbs – it only has 2 grams of net carbs per serving, which is ideal for keto diets. Tahini has 3 grams of net carbs, which is also great!
Both spreads are great sources of healthy fats, and Brazil nut butter has 4 grams of protein per serving, while tahini boasts 5 grams.
You can rest easy knowing that both spreads have 0 grams of sugar!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Brazil nut butter | Tahini (sesame seed butter) |
| Calories | 190 | 176 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 19 g (4.5 g) | 16 g (2 g) |
| Total carbs | 4 g | 6 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 2 g (2 g) | 3 g (3 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 0 g | 0 g |
| Protein | 4 g | 5 g |
How to store Brazil nut butter and tahini
Brazil nut butter and tahini should be stored in the fridge. Brazil nut butter does not have added oils and preservatives, which can make it go rancid quicker, but the fridge will slow that. Tahini will thicken up in the fridge a bit, making it easier to handle!
Nut butters generally last 2-3 months after opening, but always be sure to check the labels for any specific storage instructions and best-before dates!
Brazil nut butter vs tahini: Which is better?
So, which spread here is the better one?
Brazil nut butter has that smooth and creamy texture with a mild and buttery flavor, making it a truly delicious option! It also has some unique health benefits in having selenium!
Tahini is also great, providing a thin and creamy texture that is amazing for drizzling, adding its mild and unique taste to many different dishes!
But, there can only be one winner today.
Now, I think both spreads have their place, but Brazil nut butter wins overall because it has a deliciously buttery taste that brings out the best in bakes, and has the unique benefit of selenium in it!
FAQs
Yes, Brazil nut butter can be used for keto diets because it has a low carb content, along with a good protein and healthy fats content!
Both Brazil nut butter and tahini are great options for paleo diets, so enjoy them fully!
No it does not. Brazil nut butter has its own flavor profile, boasting a mild and buttery flavor. Peanut butter tastes like peanuts, with a saltier flavor profile.
Tahini is perfect for keto diets with only 3 grams of net carbs per serving! It also boasts a decent protein content, low calories, and a bunch of healthy fats!
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