Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Native to Africa and Indonesia, they are also now found in tropical regions around the world. They come in a variety of different colors, including white, yellow, black and red. Our seeds are the white variety and are sourced from India and are not irradiated. We also carry a top quality black sesame seed.

High in polyunsaturated fatty acids, they are highly sought after for their oil content, which is pressed from the raw seeds and because it is highly stable it is ideal for cooking. In addition, it is exceptionally resistant to rancidity in hot climates.

These oil-rich, nutty seeds are commonplace here in the States on baked goods such as breads, hamburger buns crackers, pastries and rolls. World wide sesame is a common spice with nearly 4 million tons of the seed exported each year. They have become quite popular in Chinese stir fries and are a key ingredient in the Middle Eastern spice blend Za'atar and in Japanese seven-spice.

History and Cultivation

Sesame seeds may be one of the oldest recorded plants that were harvested primarily for their seeds and date back to as early as 900 BC. As with many spices, the legend of their use is always interesting. It is written that women in ancient Babylon used a mixture of sesame seeds honey to delay the aging process and Roman soldiers consumed this same mixture for energy and strength.

Where to Use

Our Toasted Sesame Seeds go well with eggplant, fish, honey, legumes, noodles, salad and zucchini.

Works Well With

Sesame seeds work well in combination with cardamom, chili, cinnamon, coriander, ginger, nutmeg, oregano and pepper.

Flavor Profile

Sesame Seeds are fairly soft, flat, tiny and oval shaped and they do not possess much of a fragrance and their taste is a bit nutty with a light crunch. Once you roast or grind the seeds the taste becomes more pronounced.

Helpful Hints

Some of the most searched recipes with Sesame Seed include – Simple Sesame Chicken, Salmon with Spinach, Spicy Thai Noodles and Za'atar Crusted Baked Chicken.

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