White Sesame Seeds
Inventory, 20 oz : 8.00
This item was last sold on : 11/01/24
Description/Taste
White Sesame seeds are flat, pear-shaped seeds with an off-white color. The seeds measure approximately 3 millimeters in length and are bulbous at one end, tapering down into a rounded point. The seeds can be easily crushed or ground in hand and have a high oil content, creating a paste. White Sesame seeds have almost no aroma and an incredibly delicate, nutlike flavor with a mildly sweet finish. The seeds also offer a slight crunch when consumed, which is satisfying on the palate.
Seasons/Availability
White Sesame seeds are available year-round, with fresh seeds harvested in the fall through spring.
Current Facts
White Sesame seeds are the hulled seeds of the sesame plant, an annual plant botanically known as Sesamum indicum. The sesame seeds grow within the plant's fruit, which pop open when ripe, scattering the seeds in the process. This can make harvesting challenging, so farmers either collect the fruit before it has ripened and dry them off the plant, or they hang a cloth beneath the plants to catch the seeds as they exit the fruits. Sesame seeds are dark brown to black in color when harvested. These darker-colored seeds are sold as black sesame seeds. To get White Sesame seeds, the dark hull of the seed is removed, resulting in a creamier and sweeter seed with an off-white color and softer crunch. Sesame seeds are known as Benne in Africa and Ajonjoli in Spanish and are highly prized not only as a condiment but for their oil, which is used as a cooking oil and in the manufacturing of soaps, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Nutritional Value
White Sesame seeds are high in protein as well as many B vitamins, including thiamine, niacin, and B6, which help to promote proper cell function and boost metabolism. The seeds are also a significant source of fiber and contain high levels of minerals, including manganese, magnesium, copper, calcium, and iron. The seeds contain two types of lignan fiber that are not found in other plant species. These types of fiber are good for digestive health and have been shown to help reduce bad cholesterol within the body.
Applications
White Sesame seeds are used extensively in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and American cuisine. In North America, the seed is often used to flavor baked bread and crackers and is used extensively to top hamburger buns, with one-third of the country’s imported crop being used by the popular fast-food restaurant McDonald's. White Sesame seeds are ground into a paste known as tahini. This flavorful paste gives hummus its distinctive taste and can also be used to make sauces, dressings, marinades, and in baking. White Sesame seeds are used to flavor desserts like halvah, a soft, fudge-like confection made from crushed sesame seeds that is popular in many Middle Eastern and Asian countries. White Sesame seeds can be ground into nut butter and spread on bread with honey for a delicious and healthy breakfast or folded into cookies for a unique taste. Sesame seeds should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or under refrigeration for optimum flavor. When stored properly, the seeds will last 3 to 6 months.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The popularity of plant-based diets has given rise to the demand for nutrient-rich, plant-based protein options. The labor-intensive harvesting process and lower protein level of sesame used to mean that they were not viable for affordable mass production; however, Equinom, a seed company based in Israel, is working to change that. In 2014, the company submitted a patent for a non-GMO “smart seed” Sesame seed that remains within the pod when ready to harvest, making the seeds viable for machine harvesting and resulting in a much higher crop yield. This seed also contains a higher oil content than previous seeds, resulting in larger yields of oil. In 2020, Equinom secured funding to begin researching and developing this seed even further to create a seed with a higher protein content. If Equinom succeeds, it will be able to develop sesame seeds that are easier to harvest, higher in protein, and with a much higher yield than current types. This development could drastically change the world of sesame seed production and the world of plant-based proteins altogether.
Geography/History
The sesame plant is native to the Sunda Islands in Indonesia and is thought to be the oldest oilseed plant in history, with its cultivation dating back over 4,000 years. The seed was used extensively by ancient cultures throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Asia. The Chinese have been using Sesame seeds in their diets for over 5,000 years, and evidence of oil extraction and use in the country dates back at least 2,000 years. The seeds spread along the silk road and other trade routes into Africa and Europe, where they quickly became a staple in recipes in these regions. Sesame seeds were introduced to the tropical areas in the New World by early colonists and by African slaves. The seeds thrived in the Latin American region and have become a staple crop in the area. Today, Sesame seeds are widely cultivated in many tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates throughout the world, with India, China, and Mexico being the largest producers of the seeds. White Sesame seeds can be found in the spice aisle or Mediterranean cuisine section of many grocery stores in the United States and Europe.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| The Kitchen at MCASD | La Jolla CA | 619-894-2051 |
| Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
| Mabel's Gone Fishing | San Diego CA | 619-228-9851 |
| Portside Pier (TopSail) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Hotel La Jolla - Sea & Sky | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0261 |
| Azucar | San Diego CA | 619-523-2020 |
| The Crack Shack-Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 858-735-3093 |
| The Crack Shack Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa CA | 951-808-7790 |
| Miguel's 4S Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-924-9200 |
| Fishery - Bar | San Diego CA | 858-272-9985 |
| Prey Brewing Company | Vista CA | 760-822-4226 |
| Better Buzz Coffee (La Jolla) | La Jolla CA | 619-269-4022 |
| Green Acres Campus | San Diego CA | 858-450-9907 |
| Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Mission Bay Beach Club | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| Coin-Op Game Room (Downtown) | San Diego CA | 619-255-8864 |
| Avant | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
| The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
| Aztec Shop Catering | San Diego CA | 619 594-3576 |
| Estancia Adobe | San Diego CA | 858-550-1000 |
| Blue Whale | La Jolla CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Gold Finch | San Diego CA | 619-804-2051 |
| Optimum Health Institute of San Diego | Lemon Grove CA | 619-589-4022 |
| Therapie | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| The Kitchen at Torrey View | San Diego CA | 702-489-2129 |
| University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
| Bar Same Same (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-470-9143 |
| Dot Café | San Diego CA | 914-263-1424 |
