Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread / Tahin Pekmez

A staple of Turkish breakfasts, snacks, and dessert, Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread, or Tahin Pekmez, is another Food Find waiting to be found at Turkish grocers. Featuring sesame based tahini paste and fruit based molasses, or pekmez, this gorgeously fruity and nutty spread is sure to become a pantry favourite in your house as it has in mine.

While tahini is a familiar favourite in many households, pekmez may be a newer revelation to some kitchens. Rich in vitamins and minerals, and long used in folk healing as well as in cuisine, pekmez, or fruit molasses, has a long history dating back to the 11th century in Anatolia, and even earlier in the Roman and Greek Empires. Made from boiling the juices of pressed fresh or dried fruit, pekmez can be made from grape, carob, date, fig, apple, pomegranate, and even juniper berry. 

Combining the sweet and bright flavours of fruit molasses with the earthy and nutty notes of tahini, Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread, or Tahin Pekmez, can be found in a number of varieties. I have so far tried carob molasses and tahini, grape molasses and tahini, and my household favourite, grape molasses and tahini with ground hazelnuts. I have also seen, but not yet tried, a number of other versions featuring ground peanuts. 

My favourite version, grape molasses and tahini with hazelnut, made without any additional sugar added, tastes almost like a chocolate free nutella, if you can imagine such a thing - dark, sweet, rich, fruity, and nutty. It satisfies my sweet tooth and tastes like a treat, yet feels virtuous enough to eat for breakfast or a snack.

I find the versions of Tahin Pekmez without nuts to be more intense in flavour with a thinner consistency, whereas the versions with additional ground nuts are thicker and more well rounded in intensity to my palate. I would choose to use the nut free versions for drizzling and combining with other ingredients, whereas the versions with ground nuts added are spoonable, scoopable, and spreadable on their own right from the jar, although I’m sure many eaters would have other preferences!

Where to find Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread / Tahin Pekmez

You can find varieties of Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread / Tahin Pekmez in any Turkish market, in some international or European focused grocers, some Middle Eastern shops, and online specialty vendors. If you happen to live in the Toronto area, you can find multiple varieties of Tahin Pekmez here. Look for brands that do not contain additional sugar in the ingredients if that is something that is important to you.

You can also make your own Tahin Pekmez at home by combining equal parts fruit based molasses, such as date molasses or syrup which is easy to find, or mulberry molasses if you happen to have it, with equal parts tahini.

How to use Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread / Tahin Pekmez

This mahogany toned delight can be used just as any nut butter or jam would: spread on toast or baked goods, dolloped into yogurt, chia puddings or added to smoothies, paired with other toppings such as cream cheese, labneh, goat cheese, or feta cheese, drizzled on top of roasted vegetables, and stirred into sour cream or creme fraiche for a fruit salad or dessert topping. Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread / Tahin Pekmez makes a fantastic substitute for the classic pb and j sandwich or roll up, making it a quick and easy spread for a lunch on the go, and also makes a lovely dipping companion for slices of crisp apple or sesame breadsticks for a snack. Inexpensive, nutritious, and flavourful, Tahini and Fruit Molasses Spread / Tahin Pekmez is now a regular staple alongside the various nut and seed butters in my cupboard, and a special favourite of my kitchen sidekick Ronan Also Eats.