Sesame seeds are derived from a plant of the Sesamum genus and bear the scientific name of Sesamum indicum. These seeds are considered the oldest oilseed crop in the world and have been cultivated for more than 3,500 years. Sesame seeds come from the sesame plant, which is native to Asia and East Africa, evidence of their native forms in Africa and India. The sesame plant is tremendously resilient and grows in places where many other crops fail, which is why it was so heavily relied on throughout the ages. The seeds themselves are very small, only 3-4 mm long and 2 mm wide, yet 3.85 million metric tons are produced every year. They come in a wide variety of colors, depending on the variety or strain of the sesame plant.

Sesame Seeds