Sesame, Sesamum indicum
Global area: 12.7 million hectares
Area of Global Field: 16 m² (0.8 %)
Region of origin: India, East Africa
Main cultivation areas: Sudan, India, Myanmar
Uses/main benefits: Oil, baking ingredient
‘Open sesame!’ is the magic formula in fairy tales to open the door to a rocky cave full of treasures. Sesame seeds, with their wealth of nutrients, also contain many treasures. The well-known magic spell probably originates from the sesame seed capsules, which burst open with a mysterious crack as soon as they are ripe.
A survivor
Sesame belongs to the sesame family (Pedaliaceae) and is one of the oldest oil plants. It originally comes from South Asia and likes very sunny and warm conditions. The herbaceous plant is an annual and grows to a height of 60 to 150 cm. White, pink or dark red flowers, which have a rather unpleasant smell, grow from the leaf axils on the stem. The capsules containing the sesame seeds develop from them.
There are two different types of sesame plants. One type has an unbranched growth form, with two to three capsules per shoot node, which ripen rather slowly and are used in intensive cultivation. The second type has a branched growth habit with only one early maturing capsule per shoot node. This type should not be planted too densely and is suitable for extensive cultivation. Depending on the variety, there are white, brown and black sesame seeds, which differ slightly in taste and nutrient composition. The sesame plant is very modest – it likes heat, dryness and nutrient-poor soil. For this reason, some small farmers also grow sesame as a cash crop on poor soils – international demand is high.
The biggest players in the world of sesame
Today, sesame is grown in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The largest sesame producer in the world is Sudan, followed by India and Myanmar. China is the leading producer of sesame oil and also imports the most sesame seeds worldwide. India leads the rankings for sesame oil exports, but Japan makes by far the largest turnover from the export of high-quality sesame oil. The USA imports the most sesame oil worldwide.
Small seeds full of magic – “Open sesame!”
Each tiny seed contains a small power plant of fat. Around half of their weight consists of precious monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The polyunsaturated fatty acids that the human body cannot produce itself are dominated by the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid. It has a positive influence on cholesterol levels and is an important component of the human skin and intestinal mucosa.
But sesame seeds can do even more: they provide fibre and proteins that keep you full for a long time and keep your metabolism going at the same time. Sesame also contains lots of iron, calcium and vitamins: In addition to various B vitamins, it also contains vitamin E, which protects our cells and helps prevent numerous diseases. Black sesame seeds have slightly more of most nutrients than white sesame seeds.
Because of its high antioxidant content, sesame oil can be stored for a very long time. It also does not go rancid easily in tropical heat. However, like all oils with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, sesame should not be heated to high temperatures.
And last but not least: as healthy and versatile as sesame is, it is a strong allergen. It must therefore be clearly declared on food labels. Because what is a ‘superfood’ for some can be a serious danger for others.
Did you know?
In the first years of the Global Field, no sesame grew here. Only in recent years has sesame cultivation increased to such an extent that it has now become one of the world’s largest crops in terms of area and is therefore also growing on our Global Field. The great demand for sushi, tahini and co. has boosted cultivation – and it is also very profitable for small farmers to use their nutrient-poor soil for sesame cultivation.
From plates to medicine to cosmetics – sesame seeds are in great demand
Either sesame seeds or sesame oil are used for human consumption. Sesame seeds can be found in Asian wok dishes, on bread and rolls or as oil in salad dressings. In the Arab world, tahini, a creamy paste made from pureed sesame seeds and sesame oil, is widely used. It is an integral part of the ever-popular hummus, for example. The delicious dessert halva also comes from the Arab world. Gomasio, a spice mixture made from roasted black sesame seeds and sea salt, is very popular in Japanese and Korean cuisine.
In traditional Chinese medicine, both sesame seeds and sesame oil are used for a wide variety of treatments. And in Ayurveda, sesame oil is considered THE massage oil because it penetrates deep into the skin. These effects also make it ideal for cosmetic products. It nourishes dry and chapped skin and helps to loosen scabs from healed wounds. The essential amino acid L-lysine contained in sesame oil is also used to treat herpes and shingles.
Sesame meal, with its many proteins, minerals and vitamins, continues to be a popular and inexpensive supplementary feed for animal husbandry. Because sesame meal contains almost six percent nitrogen and other ingredients, it is also a good plant fertilizer. Fermented sesame meal is used, for example, as a fertiliser for crops such as watermelons, raspberries and tobacco.
Sources
Utopia: Sesame seeds: nutrients, effects and preparation tips
Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): A Comprehensive Review of Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Composition, Health Benefits, Development of Food, and Industrial Applications, Panpan Wei 1 , Fenglan Zhao 1 , Zhen Wang 1 , Qibao Wang 2 , Xiaoyun Chai 3, *, Guige Hou 4, * and Qingguo Meng
Biology page: Sesame
Mint et al (2020): Sustainable Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Production through Improved Technology: An Overview of Production, Challenges, and Opportunities in Myanmar. Link.