Food and Drink Atlas

How The World Eats
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Ingredient

Sesame

Nuts and Seeds

Sesame is a plant, also called benne, cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods; it is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world, with numerous wild relatives found in Africa and a smaller number in India. World production in 2024 reached 6.7 million tonnes, led by India, Myanmar and Sudan. Sesame seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops known, domesticated well over 3,000 years ago; the cultivated species originated in India, tolerates drought conditions well, growing where other crops fail, and has one of the highest oil contents of any seed, giving sesame a rich, nutty flavor that makes it a common ingredient in cuisines around the world.

Facts
Earliest Documented Use, From (Year)
from 3500 BCE 1
Wikipedia "Sesame" Origins and history, citing Bedigian & Harlan 1986: archaeological remnants of charred sesame dating to about 3500-3050 BC show sesame was domesticated in the Indian subcontinent at least 5,500 years ago.
Classification
Allergen
Sesame Seeds 1
Connections

Allergen Carried By

Furikake, Ingredients
Mole Sauce, Ingredients
Sesame Oil, Ingredients
Tahini, Ingredients
Za'atar, Ingredients

Associated With

Sesame Oil, Ingredients

Used By

Barazek, Dishes
Source Barazek (Wikipedia)
Jian dui, Dishes
Source Jian dui (Wikipedia)
Mianwo, Dishes
Source Mianwo (Wikipedia)
Pani câ meusa, Dishes
Source Pani ca meusa (Wikipedia)
Roti gambang, Dishes
Source Roti gambang (Wikipedia)
Syrian Cuisine, Cuisines
Source Syrian Cuisine (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Originated In

India

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Sources
1. Sesame (Wikipedia)
Introduction
Quote, Introduction
Sesame (; Sesamum indicum) is a plant in the genus Sesamum, also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods.
Barazek (Wikipedia)
Used By: Barazek, Infobox main_ingredient field: flour, butter, icing sugar, egg yolk, sesameView the Source
Jian dui (Wikipedia)
Used By: Jian dui, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the Source
Syrian Cuisine (Wikipedia)
Used By: Syrian Cuisine, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Used By: Syrian Cuisine, Wikipedia article text
Syrian specialties makes use of eggplant, zucchini, garlic, meat (mostly from lamb and sheep), sesame seeds, rice, chickpeas, fava beans, lentils, steak, cabbage, cauliflower, vine leaves, pickled turnips, cucumbers, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, mint, pistachios, honey and fruits.
View the Source
Mianwo (Wikipedia)
Used By: Mianwo, Lead section
Quote, Used By: Mianwo, Lead section
made from soy milk, rice milk, flour, sesame, and chopped Chinese scallion
View the Source
Roti gambang (Wikipedia)
Used By: Roti gambang, Lead section
Quote, Used By: Roti gambang, Lead section
with sesame seeds, flavoured with cinnamon and palm sugar
View the Source
Pani ca meusa (Wikipedia)
Used By: Pani câ meusa, Lead paragraph
Quote, Used By: Pani câ meusa, Lead paragraph
It is a dish typical of Palermo and it consists of a soft bread (locally called vastedda or vastella) topped with sesame, stuffed with chopped veal lung and spleen that have been boiled and then fried in lard.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.