Sesame Seeds

The Chinese used sesame seeds 5000 years ago to prepare ink blocks while the Ancient Egyptians ground the seeds to use as flour. 

India produces a wide variety of sesame seeds that vary in color from white to red to black, and oil content ranging from 40% to 50%.

The white and black sesame seeds are for consumption, the brown sesame seeds are for oil extraction. White Indian sesame seeds have a nutty taste and are used for making sweets, baked foods and confectionery. Black Indian sesame seeds are used for seasoning. And the hulled seeds are used for snacks.

80% of Indian sesame seed production happens during khariff season (June- July; September - October). The rest of the crop is cultivated in the rabi season (December to March). 

India’s largest Sesame producing regions are: Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.