You’ve probably heard of the world-famous Nutella – a creamy chocolatey spread that I’ve personally had my fair share of struggles putting down. It’s one of the most delicious variations of nut butters (in my opinion), but it comes with a couple of caveats in the health department that we’ll talk about yet…
We’ll also be comparing it and looking at tahini, a nut-free spread that’s one of the main ingredients in the ever-popular dip hummus! Plus, it’s one of the spreads that I rarely see people using (which is unfortunate since it’s so great).
Tahini and Nutella are essentially the opposites of each other, which is why we’re going to dive in and put them side-by-side and put a magnifying glass to each of these unique spreads, comparing their pros, cons, uses, nutritional profiles, and everything else you need to decide: which is better?
Let’s jump in!
Comparing tahini vs Nutella
Tahini and Nutella don’t share a lot of similarities. They’re both creamy, although tahini has a much thinner texture.
Other than that, they’re different in almost every way! For example, tahini has sesame as an allergen, while Nutella has tree nuts, milk, and soy as allergens. Tahini is also suitable for vegan, keto, and paleo diets, while you won’t be able to enjoy Nutella for any of those. The glycemic index of tahini is 40, which is still in the “low” category. Nutella likely has a substantially higher glycemic index due to its high sugar content, but we don’t have concrete numbers on it – make sure to talk to a physician if you have concerns for your blood sugar levels spiking!
| Tahini (sesame seed butter) | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) | |
| Taste | Mildly nutty, toasty, slightly bitter | Sweet, chocolatey |
| Texture | Thin, creamy | Smooth, creamy |
| Allergens | Sesame | Tree nuts, milk, soy |
| Vegan? | Yes | No |
| Paleo? | Yes | No |
| Keto? | Yes | No |
| Glycemic index (GI) | 40 | Unknown (likely high due to added sugar content) |
What is tahini?
Tahini is a thin, creamy, and smooth spread that originates in the Middle East. It’s made from toasted sesame seeds, which are ground down into the velvety paste that you can drizzle or spread! You can essentially call tahini sesame seed butter.
It’s also quite easy to make tahini at home, so you can enjoy the nutty and slightly bitter spread on your own terms. Plus, you can use it to make hummus!
What is Nutella?
Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread that barely requires an introduction!
Basically, Nutella is a variation of hazelnut butter, with a lot of added refined sugar, palm oil, and other ingredients that aren’t the best for the health-conscious…
Now, it’s an absolutely delicious spread, but you’ll have to make sure you enjoy it in moderation if you’re trying to limit your sugar intake – or, you can make your own Nutella at home that takes away a lot of the negative ingredients, or you can even make a keto Nutella that’s made with stevia-sweetened chocolate chips!
Differences between tahini and Nutella
The biggest differences between tahini and Nutella are their flavor and consistency.
In fact, these two spreads are quite far from one another in how they taste, with tahini boasting a nutty, toasty, and slightly bitter taste while Nutella offers a very sweet and chocolatey flavor.
Now, while they both have smooth and creamy consistencies, tahini is super runny – perfect for drizzling over things! Nutella has a more solid consistency, and sticks together a bit more making it a bit less drizzling-oriented – although you definitely can!
Another massive difference is in their nutritional profiles, which we’ll check out in just a bit…
How to use tahini vs Nutella
Tahini, as you may have guessed, is most popularly used in making hummus. But, it’s actually much more versatile than that!
You can use it as a spread on toast, drizzle it over your bakes, use it as a standalone dip, and even use it as an ingredient in baking! The more creative uses are making salad dressings and sauces with it, which can result in nutty flavor profiles – tahini has a milder flavor, so it won’t be overpowering either!
Tahini is also vegan, paleo, and keto friendly while being nut-free, so lots of people with different diets can use it!
Nutella is a great way to add sweetness and a chocolate profile to things. For example, add it into your smoothie or brownie batter! You can also use it as a spread (I personally love it with my pancakes and waffles), or drizzle it over a banana split! Mixing it into your oatmeal is also a tasty option.
Nutrition: Tahini vs Nutella
Tahini is full of healthy fats, and is a fair bit lower in calories than Nutella. It’s also got a decent protein content, and has only 3 grams of net carbs per serving – great for low-carb or keto recipes.
Nutella is a bit more calorie dense, and has a bit more saturated fat content as well. It has a ton of carbs compared to pretty much all nut butters – 22 grams of net carbs per serving! But what’s even crazier is its sugar content…Nutella has 19 grams of added sugar, adding up to 21 grams of sugar for every two tablespoons – that’s a lot!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Tahini (sesame seed butter) | Nutella (flavored hazelnut butter) |
| Calories | 176 | 200 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 16 g (2 g) | 12 g (4 g) |
| Total carbs | 6 g | 23 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 3 g (3 g) | 22 g (1 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 0 g | 21 g (19 g) |
| Protein | 5 g | 2 g |
How to store tahini and Nutella
Tahini is best stored in a cool and dry place – like a pantry! You can put it in the fridge too, but that’ll thicken it up a bit, so keep that in mind.
Nutella does fine at room temperature, but a cool and dark place would also be ideal for it. Ferrero, the company that makes Nutella, says it’s good for up to 12 months after opening it. I’ve found that Nutella gets runnier the warmer it is, but it also thickens up a lot when it’s cooled.
Tahini vs Nutella: Which is better?
These two spreads are so different from one another, making it a bit of a challenge picking a winner…
On the one hand, tahini pairs well with many dishes since it has a mild, but distinct, nutty taste. The versatility in different diets and low-carb content make it even more attractive.
Nutella, on the other hand, is full of flavor. It’s delicious, and adds a special chocolatey element to everything you pair it with. However, it’s hard to look past the harmful ingredients and the massive amount of refined sugar that’s put into it…
I recommend Nutella in moderation when you need it specifically, but tahini is better for the versatility in different diets, the better nutritional profile, and the ease of making an accurate version of it at home.
FAQs
Generally, almond butter is considered the healthiest nut butter because of its high mineral, vitamin E, and monounsaturated fat content, which are all great for overall health.
Tahini is considered a decently healthy choice because it contains protein, minerals, monounsaturated fats, and other healthy qualities.
Yes, Nutella is considered unhealthy due to its high sugar content. Eating too much sugar can cause health issues and negative weight gain, and it doesn’t have any redeeming qualities in terms of nutrition.
Tahini is made from sesame seeds, making it a completely nut-free spread!
Leave a Comment