An efficient and simple approach for the aqueous esterification of a range of carboxylic acids with alcohols has been developed using catalytic amounts of a glucose-derived N-alkanoyl-N-methyl-1-glycamine non-ionic biosurfactant (C12MG). Excellent yields to final products were obtained under mild conditions and the protocol was amenable to both aromatic and long alkyl chain acids (e.g. fatty acids).