Sesame is a flowering plant that grows naturally in the tropical regions of the world.It is cultivated for its edible seeds which grow in pods. Sesame, which was domesticated over 4000 years ago,is one of the oldest known oilseed crops.It is a robust,drought-tolerant crop and for thousands of years, was common in the Middle East. Sesame seeds have a high oil content and are available in many colours. Off-white seeds,which are what I use,are the most common and they can also be gold, brown,reddish, grey and black.Sesame has a rich, nutty taste and the oil is very popular both for cooking and skin care. It is often used for massage in the traditional practice of Ayurveda. Cold-pressed sesame oil, which is produced from raw seeds and is a pale yellow color, is what is sold in western health shops. This is the kind that is popular for skin care. East Asian sesame oils, which are used for cooking, are usually dark brown as the oil comes from toasted sesame seeds.Unroasted but not always cold-pressed sesame oil is often used for cooking in the Middle East and is sold in the markets there.Sesame is rich in antioxidants, Omega 6 fatty acids, proteins, nutrients and minerals but lacks Omega 3.
