White Sesame "Gomashio" - Asia

What is white sesame?

Sesame is the best known annual plant of the Pediliaceae family. It is cultivated in Africa and Asia, particularly in India and Ethiopia. In India, sesame is an important plant. In fact, it is a symbol of immortality. During the Middle Ages, white sesame was widely used in bread. The cultivation of white sesame is inexpensive, so many producers in poor countries decided to start producing it. Sesame developed throughout the world thanks to black slaves who took seeds with them. In the Middle East and Asia, white sesame is an essential seed that can be found in many recipes.

What is the flavor of white sesame?

White sesame has milder flavours than black sesame. It has a slightly sweet taste.

Harvesting white sesame in plantations

Sesame is a plant that is grown in well-drained, clayey soils. A neutral pH promotes the growth of this plant. Sunlight is an essential ingredient in the success of sesame cultivation. Sesame has beautiful white or pink flowers in spring and early summer. They give way to pod-shaped fruits. It is inside these that we find the famous white sesame seeds. Sesame seeds are harvested when the plant is dry. They can be used whole, peeled or roasted.

How to use white sesame in cooking?

When you think of white sesame, it is impossible not to imagine a delicious burger bun. White sesame is the cereal that proudly sits on top of your brioche bread. This seed is also found in bakery grain breads. It can be found in salad dressings that add an Asian flavour to your recipes. White sesame seed is the base of tahini. This essential ingredient in oriental cuisine is a sesame cream prepared with white sesame seeds and sesame oil. You can integrate it in a vinaigrette, a sauce for pasta and of course in the famous hummus, this chickpea purée. White sesame seed tahini is also favoured by vegans who replace fresh cream with this product. On the barbecue, I advise you to marinate your chicken with soy and make skewers that you sprinkle with white sesame seeds. These seeds can also accompany lamb balls. White sesame seeds can also be used to accompany a baked chicken leg. Brush your chicken with honey and place some seeds on top for exquisite oriental flavours. For dessert, white sesame can be used in cookie recipes or in a delicious coconut cream.

Health benefits of white sesame

White sesame not only satisfies your taste buds. Rich in minerals, soybeans were used in ancient Greece to provide energy for soldiers. White sesame is rich in vitamins B1 and B6. The former is responsible for the proper functioning of the brain and plays an important role in the development of muscles. The second is essential in the production of hormones such as serotonin or dopamine Antioxidant/, white sesame seed also plays an important role in the fight against bad cholesterol.

Conservation of white sesame

My white sesame seeds come in an airtight resealable bag. I invite you to keep it in a place away from light and humidity