All About Sesame Seeds | Know Your Fine Spice Til (तिल)

The sesame plant likely originated in Asia or East Africa, and ancient Egyptians are known to have used the ground seed as grain flour.

The seeds were used by the Chinese at least 5,000 years ago, and for centuries they have burned the oil to make soot for the finest Chinese ink blocks.

Sesame was also found to be grown during ancient Harappan, Mesopotamian, and Anatolian eras for its edible seed and its oil.

Sesamum indicum is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. It was a highly prized oil crop of Babylon and Assyria at least 4000 years ago.

In India it was a symbol of immortality and a commercial commodity, traders exported it to Europe via the Red Sea.

Records show that the Egyptians prescribed the sesame as medicine about 1500 BC and used the oil as ceremonial purification.

The Babylonians also used the oil for cooking, sesame in cakes and medicine.

Sesame seeds date back more than 5,000 years and believed to be one of the first condiments as well as one of the first plants to be used for extraction of edible oil.

The earliest recorded use of a spice – sesame seed – comes from an Assyrian myth which claims that the Gods drank sesame wine in the night before they created the earth.

Scheherazade was the first person to give the sesame superhuman powers when she held her Arabian caliph spellbound for one thousand and one nights with her tales of intrigue and adventure.

Because sesame pods readily burst open at the slightest touch when they are ripe, Scheherazade provided Ali Baba with the magic words, “Open Sesame” to instantly open the cave, a robber’s den, in her exciting story about “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”

Sesamum is one of the most ancient cultivated crops of India.

The Sesamum seed is considered as an essential grain in Hindu religious ceremonies and has been referred to as Homadhānya and Pitṛtarpaṇa in ancient scripts.

Some are also of the belief that the earliest human migrants perhaps introduced Sesamum into India from Africa.

Charred fossils of sesame at Harappa excavation (c.3600-I7S0 B.c.) indicate that sesame was cultivated during the Indus Valley Civilization.

Widespread cultivation of sesame in both, Asia and Africa since ancient times has rendered it difficult to ascertain its original home.

Sesame is said to have originated from Vishnu’s sweat drops that fell on Earth. In the Veda the nose is often called Tila Puspa or blossom of the Tila plant.

Tila is used in rituals of the dead from very early times in Hindu religion.

This is evident from the Epic Mahabharata – when Bhishma elucidating to a query raised by Yudhisthira in respect of the objects to be dedicated to Pitr that become inexhaustible, explains the offerings.

The Atharva Veda mentions Sesame as a tree and field manure crop. The sesame seeds were in use as far back as 3000 B.C. when the plant was a major source of food, wine and oil, and was guarded by royalty.

During the Vedic ages, it was the only seed used for extraction of oil by the Aryans.

• Sesame seeds have been grown since antiquity for its seeds, and are used as food and flavouring and from which a prized oil is extracted.
• Sesame oil is used as a salad oil or cooking oil.
• It is used for making shortening and margarine.
• in the manufacture of soaps, pharmaceuticals, and lubricants.
• Sesame oil is used as an ingredient in cosmetics.
• The press cake remaining after the oil is expressed is highly nutritious.
• Sesame leaves on mature plants, which are rich in mucilage, can be used as a laxative as well as a treatment for dysentery and cholera.

They’re on hamburger buns, bread, pastries and even your cereal.

Not only do they contain high nutritional value, but these delicate nuts are multi-purpose as they have the power to enhance both sweet and savoury foods.

White sesame seeds are more commonly used than black sesame seeds, and both have different flavours.

The white sesame seeds have a delicate, nutty flavour while the black sesame seeds have a bitter taste and are used primarily for their visual appeal.

Consuming moderate amounts of sesame seeds every day can prevent the body from developing deficiencies that impact bone health.

Excessive consumption can cause bowel and colon irritation, so it is quite important to regulate your consumption of sesame seeds.

However, to accurately pinpoint the quantity of sesame seeds for your daily consumption is quite difficult, as it depends on various factors such as your age, body structure, and activity levels.

But, it must be between 40-50g daily, and in just weeks, you’ll start to feel different.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, sesame seed is sweet, pungent, astringent, and bitter. Sesame oil, one of the healthiest oils loaded with essential nutrients, is also used as an ingredient. In fact, over 90 percent of Ayurvedic treatments use sesame oil as the base product since it has nourishing, calming and warming nature.

Rasa (Taste): Madhura (Sweet), Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Qualities): Ushna (Hot), Sukshma (Minute, enters minute body channels), Vyavayi (Undergoes Paka or chemical change), Teekshna (Strong, Piercing), Vishada (Clear), Guru (Heavy), Sara (Eases bowel movements)
Vikasi (Loosens joints), Lekhana (Scraping)
Veerya (Potency): Ushna (Hot)
Vipaka (Taste conversion after digestion): Madhura (Sweet)
Karma (Actions): Balances Vata and Kapha Dosha, Slightly increases Pitta Dosha

Ground Sesame Seeds add nutty depth to various recipes. As a culinary nut, sesame seeds impart a rich, nutty taste that have enhanced the human enjoyment of many foods in cuisines all over the world.

• Sesame or til seeds are sometimes added to breads, including bagels and the tops of hamburger buns. They may be baked into crackers, often in the form of sticks.
• In Asia, sesame seeds are sprinkled onto some sushi-style foods.
• In Japan, whole seeds are found in many salads and baked snacks, and tan and black sesame seed varieties are roasted and used to make the flavouring gomashio.
• East Asian cuisines, such as Chinese cuisine, use sesame seeds and oil in some dishes, such as dim sum, sesame seed balls and the Vietnamese bánh rán.
• Sesame flavour (through oil and roasted or raw seeds) is also very popular in Korean cuisine, used to marinate meat and vegetables.
• Chefs in tempura restaurants blend sesame and cottonseed oil for deep-frying.
• In most parts of India, sesame seeds mixed with heated jaggery, sugar, or palm sugar is made into balls and bars similar to peanut brittle or nut clusters and eaten as snacks.
• Black sesame is used in the preparation of chikki and cold-pressed oil.
• In Assam, black sesame seeds are used to make til pitha and tilor laru (sesame seed balls), as well as used with meat to cook til mangko during bihu.
• In Punjab and Tamil Nadu, a sweet ball called pinni in Urdu and ell urundai in Tamil, ellunda in Malayalam, yellunde/chigali, (sesame ball, usually in jaggery), is made of its seeds mixed with sugar. It is eaten in various forms during the festival of Makar Sankranti.
• Sesame oil is used extensively in the cuisine of Tamil Nadu. Milagai podi, a ground powder made of sesame and dry chilli, is used to enhance flavour, and is consumed along with other traditional foods such as idli.
• In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, sesame oil is used as a preservative and to temper the heat of their spicy foods, pickles, and condiments.
• Sesame is a popular and essential ingredient in many Middle Eastern cuisines.
• Sesame seeds are made into a paste called tahini (used in various ways, including hummus bi tahini) and the Middle Eastern confection halvah.
• Ground and processed, the seed is also used in sweet confections.
• Sesame is also a common component of the Levantine spice mixture za’atar, popular throughout the Middle East.

Sesame seed or til is found in many Indian foods and desserts, but somehow, it shows up more during winters.

Certain foods have the potential to keep us warm by just eating them, and sesame seeds are one of them.

Even all the winter festivals like Lohri and Makar Sankranti are celebrated with traditional sweets made with sesame seeds – gajak, rewari, ladoo

Some of these sesame seeds desserts or til ki mithai include til burfi, badam aur til ki pinni, til patti or gajak, til ki ladoo, sesame seeds toffee, sesame peanut brittle.

A lot of these desserts mentioned above use sesame seeds as a base, while some of these may use them as a garnish or a stuffing.

There are many different ways to enjoy sesame seeds: you can roast them, use them as flavouring in marinades and sauces, or as a spread.

If you add unhulled seeds into your cuisine, your meal may taste slightly bitter. On the other hand, if you wish to have a sweet-tasting dish, hulled sesame seeds will deliver that flavour.

Hulled & unhulled sesame seeds are edible. In some cuisines like the Korean sesame leaves are also called for in some recipes.

The shelf life of various edible seeds is influenced by a variety of factors such as their date of manufacturing, if they are roasted or salted, how they should be stored and in what temperature.

Sesame seeds are high in oil, and that means they will go rancid at some point. However, they have quite a good shelf life. So it is recommended to buy them, when you want to use them.

In general, raw sesame seeds lasts for about 1-2 years whereas, the roasted sesame seeds last for 6-8 months when stored in the pantry and for about a year in the freezer.

Due to the high fat content, sesame seeds become rancid fast especially at room temperature. It is important to store them in airtight containers.

The best way to get the longest shelf life possible out of your sesame seeds is by storing them in an airtight container such as glass jars.

Stored them in a cool, dry cupboard or pantry, in the refrigerator, or even in the freezer. Raw sesame seeds in particular tend to last longer if refrigerated or frozen.

Freezing sesame seeds causes no adverse effects, and you can usually use them right out of the freezer, without needing to thaw them first.

You can located sesame seeds at the grocery store in the spice aisle.

For convenient shopping, check out Amazon for bulk or retail buying of sesame seeds (which can be a lot cheaper) as well as tons of different brands.: India | USA

There are significant health benefits of sesame seeds. From preventing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases to promoting bone health, sesame seeds provide a host of health benefits.

Sesame seeds are an excellent source of copper, calcium, dietary fibre, iron, vitamin B1, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, selenium, molybdenum, and magnesium.

1. Health benefits of sesame seeds as a rich source of protein – Sesame Seeds or Til are inherently blessed with good protein levels. 100 grams of sesame seeds contain 18 grams of protein which makes up to 32% of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) requirement.
2. Health benefits of til in managing diabetes – Multiple studies have claimed that eating sesame seeds or their oil helps regulate blood sugar. Til acts as an organic blood sugar regulator due to its low carbohydrates, high protein, and healthy fats content. Additionally, the presence of pinoresinol plays an essential role in maintaining and regulating blood sugar levels.
3. Health Benefits of sesame seeds in improving body’s immunity – With all the coronavirus pandemic going around the world, immunity has become an important topic. Sesame seeds help you in building up your immunity with their power-packed minerals and vitamins.
4. Health benefits of til seeds in skin protection – With the presence of natural antioxidants and natural SPF, sesame keeps the skin protected from the sun’s UV rays as well as from free radicals.
5. Health benefits of sesame seeds to check blood pressure – You already know that til seeds are rich in magnesium. But, did you know that they help to prevent hypertension and blood pressure? Polyunsaturated fats and the compound present in sesame oil are known to keep blood pressure levels in check.
6. Health benefits of til in lowering your cholesterol – Sesame or Til seeds are abundant with Sesamin and Sesamolin – both belonging to the fibre group, lignans. Til seeds also contain phytosterols, possessing cholesterol-like structures. Hence, including these seeds in the diet could definitely help to do away with high blood cholesterol levels.
7. Health benefits of sesame seeds in supporting bone health – Sesame seeds contain zinc in very good amounts, a mineral that stimulates density of your bones saving them from osteoporosis. Sesame seeds also contain calcium that is essential for bone health.
8. Health benefits of til seeds in digestion – Sesame seed helps in good digestive system, as they are good source of fibre. Fibre helps in smoothing the functioning of the intestine, facilitating the flushing out of waste, and thus offering guaranteed relief from constipation.
9. Health benefits of sesame seeds in for maintaining oral health – Sesame Oil can help in maintaining oral health by removing dental plaque and teeth whitening. Gargling regularly with sesame seed oil can lower streptococcus mutants present in teeth and mouth saliva.
10. Sesame seed is also known to boost energy levels. It nourishes the brain, and slows down the ageing process. Consuming these seeds regularly can help combat backache, painful joints, and joints weakness in a better way.

Sesame is not considered as a major food allergens, however, a sesame allergy may cause a life threatening allergic reaction. So, sesame seeds should also be consumed in moderation.

The seeds contain a lot of fibre, that may increase the risk of bowel obstruction or colon irritation in people with a benign anastomotic stricture.

Sesame seeds, safed til, kala til

Sesame seeds or Til (Sesamum indicum) are a reservoir of nutritional components with numerous beneficial effects along with health promotion in humans.

Sesame seeds have one of the highest oil contents of any seed. With a rich, nutty flavor, it is a common ingredient in cuisines across the world.

It is also known as gingelly, til, benne seed and popularly as “Queen of Oilseeds” due to its high degree of resistance to oxidation and rancidity.

Sesame seeds are high in protein, vitamin B1, dietary fiber as well as an excellent source of phosphorous, iron, magnesium calcium, manganese, copper and zinc.

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