Things I didn't try early on: Sesame as a sweet

Back home, sesame was never something I thought much about. It usually showed up as a garnish on bread rolls or savory dishes like stir fries, adding a bit of texture but not much presence. 

Because of that, I didn't really see sesame as a sweet flavor, but after a few years here my perception of that has changed a great deal! Black sesame ice cream, pudding, sesame mochi, and goma dango all lean into that yummy roasted flavor. Rather than masking it with tons of sugar, I feel like here they let the sesame stay slightly bitter and nutty, which felt a little unusual at first...but I've grown to really enjoy it.

A black sesame pudding with black sesame ice cream at a local cafe! Super yummy!