Don’t expect tahini to have a sweet taste like nut butters. It is pleasantly bitter. I didn't really like it when I took a raw spoonful for the first taste. It was very flavorful, but it wasn’t a taste that I immediately enjoyed.  That said, it is extremely delicious when mixed with other ingredients in recipes. The earthy flavor complements flavors like lemon, garlic and peppers. It also adds a soothing well-grounded taste to overnight oats.