Black Sesame "Sushi" - Asia

What is black sesame?

Black sesame seed comes from an oleaginous plant of the Pedaliaceae family. It is also the best known plant of this family. In order to grow in the best conditions, black sesame is cultivated in silty and acidic soils. It hates sandy and alkaline soils. To date, black sesame plantations are mainly found in Africa and Asia, particularly in India. This seed is very present in the history of China, this country using it mainly for its various virtues.

What is the flavour of black sesame?

Black sesame has a full-bodied taste with hints of hazelnut. It is more intense than white sesame.

Harvesting black sesame in plantations

Black sesame seed is a very small oval-shaped seed. It grows for 90 to 120 days without frost with an ideal temperature above 23 °. Very often, the seeds of the plants are harvested and then dried. However, sesame growers have a specific problem: the size of the seeds. The seeds are very small and fly away easily when the wind picks up. Therefore, they use another method: harvesting black sesame seeds when they are already dry. A tarpaulin is placed on the ground and the dried and yellowed sesame seedlings are cut with a sickle. These plants are tied up to form bunches which are placed vertically above the tarp and dried for one or two weeks. These bundles are then beaten to harvest the black sesame seeds. The seeds are then sieved to keep only good seeds.

How to use black sesame in the kitchen?

In cooking, black sesame has long since found its place in Asia and the Middle East. However, it is also found in France in simple or more original recipes. Thus, I advise you to make a black sesame cream by mixing a glass of sesame oil and a glass of seeds and chopping the whole. It can be eaten on toast with honey or integrated into desserts (custards, ice cream, etc.). Of course, it can simply bring its crunchy side to your salads composed of green salad and smoked salmon or shrimps. Do you like Japanese cuisine? Make sushi that you sprinkle with black sesame. For dessert, make a delicious black sesame panna cotta, a fusion of Asian and Italian cuisine. You need sesame paste (which you can make yourself by mixing 200 g of black sesame, 1 teaspoon of icing sugar, a teaspoon of sesame oil and a pinch of salt), full cream, milk, agave syrup and Agar Agar.

The health benefits of black sesame

Black sesame is best known for its various properties. Thus, if it is pleasant to taste it, you will kill two birds with one stone by acting favorably for your health. Black sesame is rich in magnesium, zinc and iron, so it allows you to consume minerals in the most natural way. Its seed also contains vitamin E and is an antioxidant. Black sesame seed is also known to strengthen the liver and kidneys, but also to lubricate the intestines and aid digestion. Be careful though. In case of diarrhoea, it is not recommended to eat black sesame.

Preservation of black sesame

Black sesame seed is delivered in a resealable airtight bag to be stored preferably away from light and moisture.