Tahini: how many calories?

Tahini carries 595 calories per 100 grams; a typical portion (20 g) comes to 119 calories. The tables below give the same figure in cups, spoons and slices.

100 g595kcal
  • Protein17.0 g
  • Carbs21.0 g
  • Fat54.0 g
  • Fibre9.3 g
1 portion · 20 g119kcal
  • Protein3.4 g
  • Carbs4.2 g
  • Fat10.8 g
  • Fibre1.9 g

Where do the calories come from?

  • Protein 11%
  • Carbs 13%
  • Fat 76%

These percentages come from calories, not from grams: a gram of protein or carbohydrate counts as 4 calories, a gram of fat as 9. Alcohol is left out of the sum, fibre is counted with the carbohydrate, and the total always lands on one hundred.

What do these numbers mean on the plate?

Tahini carries 6.0 calories per gram: 100 calories come out of just 17 grams. In this band the total is set not by the portion but by how far the container is tipped.

A typical portion is 20 g. Because tables are written per 100 grams, counting the portion as 100 grams too is a common mistake; for Tahini that means overstating the calories by 400%.

In calories, one portion (20 g · 119 kcal) comes to: 20 g Dark chocolate — 70% and above. Dark chocolate — 70% and above page

One portion every day adds up to 43,435 calories a year — roughly a 5.6 kg difference. This is a linear estimate and an upper bound: as weight changes, daily needs change with it. Build your own timeline

For oils the calories per gram are almost constant; the only thing that changes is how full the spoon is. And part of what goes into the pan stays in the food.

Household measure equivalents

MeasureGramCaloriesProtein
Teaspoon (5 ml)5.0 g30 kcal0.9 g
Dessert spoon (10 ml)10 g60 kcal1.7 g
Tablespoon (15 ml)15 g89 kcal2.5 g
Glass (200 ml)200 g1,190 kcal34.0 g
1 serving20 g119 kcal3.4 g

Cup and spoon equivalents come from the food's bulk density, not from volume: a cup holds 200 millilitres, not 200 grams. Packing and how finely something is chopped move these numbers by 10-20%. Convert your own measure

How much of the daily reference intake?

NutrientDaily reference100 g1 portion · 20 g
Calories2,000 kcal30%6%
Fat70 g77%15%
Carbs260 g8%2%
Protein50 g34%7%
Fibre25 g37%7%

The reference values are the figures EU Regulation 1169/2011 gives for an average adult — the %RI column on labels rests on the same numbers. They are not a personal target; the fibre row is not in the regulation, the 25 grams there is EFSA's adequate intake for adults. Work out your own calorie needs

Where does it sit within its group?

It is number 6 of the 10 foods in the Oils, sauces and sweeteners group by calories per 100 grams. The group averages 490 kcal; Tahini is 22% above that average.

Lighter options at the same 20 grams

FoodCaloriesDifferenceProtein
MustardGood swap13 kcal−106 kcal0.9 g
Ketchup20 kcal−99 kcal0.3 g
Jam56 kcal−63 kcal0.1 g

The “good swap” mark only appears when an option lowers the calories without also lowering protein and fibre per 100 calories. Unmarked rows save calories but give up nutrient density. Try it with your own portion

How long does it take to burn one portion (20 g)?

  • Walking — brisk (5.6 km/h)29 min
  • Running — 8 km/h (7:30 min/km)13 min
  • Cycling — 16-19 km/h17 min

The times are for someone weighing 70 kilos and use NET burn: the resting calories that would have been spent anyway over the same period are subtracted. The heavier the person, the shorter the time. Calculate with your own weight

Foods with similar calories

Which claims could its label carry?

EU Regulation 1924/2006 ties every label claim to a numeric threshold. Tahini meets 1 of them:

  • High fibre100 g → 9.3 g fibre · threshold: at least 6.0 g

The thresholds apply to a product's OWN analysis; the values here come from average composition tables. So this list is not an authorisation, only an estimate of which side of the threshold a product sits on. For drinks the energy and fat thresholds are per 100 millilitres and lower. Interpret your own label

Apply these numbers to your own portion

The values are averages taken from standard composition tables; a 10-15% difference between two products with the same name is normal, and the cooking method can double that gap. This page is for information and is not medical advice.