Sesame facts

Sesame plant is an erect and annual which grows upto 2 meters high. It has ovate leaves that appear on stem that could be unbranched or branched which depends on the variety. After six weeks of plantation, the plant yields tubular and furry flowers similar to cornucopia in shape. Flowers could be yellow, white, pink and violet. The flowers are self-pollinated. The plant is inherent to subtropical and tropical regions and requires much moisture and warmth for its growth. The ripened seeds are white, black or light that also depends on a variety.

Name	Sesame
Scientific Name	Sesamum indicum
Native	Native to Africa and India.
Common/English Name	Beniseed, Benniseed, Benneseed, Sesame, Til, Gingelly, Goma, Gergelim, Ajonjolí, Gimgelim, Simsim, Wangila, Ufuta, Sesam, Zhi ma, Hu ma, Chamkkae, Benne, Beni, Benne seed, Sesame seed, Sim sim, Abongra, Zhi ma, Hu ma, Sesamzaad, Goma, Sesamo, Shiro goma, Semilla de ajonjolí, Cham kkae, Sésamo, Sesam, Sésame blanc, Sezam indyjski, Graines de sesame
Name in Other Languages	India: Acchellu Spain: Ajonjoli Malaysia: Bijan Korea: Chaam-kkae Bulgaria: Cycam Thailand: Dee la Brazil: Gergelim United Kingdom: Gingelly Japan: Goma Estonia: Harilik seesam China: Hei chih ma Korea: Kkae Japan: Koba Iran: Konjed Russia: Kunzhut Estonia: Kunzuut Philippines: Linga Laos: Man nga Thailand: Ngaa Arabic countries: Sasim Finland: Seesami United Kingdom: Semsem Denmark: Sesam Germany: Sesam Spain: Sesam Sweden: Sesam France: Sesame United Kingdom: Sesame United States: Sesame Iceland: Sesamfre Greece: Sesami Netherlands: Sesamkruid Italy: Sesamo Portugal: Sesamo Spain: Sesamo Netherlands: Sesamzaad Slovakia: Sezam indicky Croatia: Sezam Czech Republic: Sezam Poland: Sezam Russia: Sezam Ukraine: Sezam Latvia: Sezama seklas Slovenia: Sezama Lithuania: Sezamas Armenia: Shooshma Israel: Shumshum Netherlands: Sim-sim Finland: Suom Albania: Susam Turkey: Susam Romenia: Susan Sweden: Sven Hungary: Szezam Israel: Szezammag France: Teel Pakistan: Til Mozambique: Ufuta Tanzania: Ufuta Germany: Vanglo Vietnam: Vung Indonesia: Wijen
Plant Growth Habit	Erect, annual
Growing Climate	Tropical
Soil	Sandy, well drained
Plant Size	0.5-1.5 m
Lifespan	Annual but occasionally perennial
Branched	Highly branched or unbranched
Leaf	7.5-12.5 cm, simple, alternate, ovate, oblong or lanceolate, toothed
Flowering Season	Mid-Summer or Late Summer/Early Fall
Flower	White, pink, mauve pink, bell shaped, hermaphrodite (develop in the leaf axils)
Fruit shape & size	Capsule, oblong to quadrangular, compressed; Length: 1.5-5 cm
Flavor/aroma	Rich, nutty
Taste	Pleasant
Seed	Black, white,brown; Length: 2.5-3 mm; Wide: 1.5 mm; 50 to 100 seeds or more; Thickness: 1 mm; egg shaped
Seed weight	20 and 40 mg
Major Nutritions	Copper, Cu 5.878 mg (653.11%) Iron, Fe 20.95 mg (261.88%) Total Fat (lipid) 71.52 g (204.34%) Manganese, Mn 3.542 mg (154.00%) Calcium, Ca 1404 mg (140.40%) Phosphorus, P 906 mg (129.43%) Tryptophan 0.559 g (127.05%) Magnesium, Mg 505 mg (120.24%) Zinc, Zn 11.16 mg (101.45%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 1.139 mg (94.92%)
Health Benefits	Health problems Promotes cholesterol Prevents E.coli Maintains blood pressure Prevents cancer Manage diabetes Healthy bones Assist digestion Reduce inflammation Protects radiation Hair and skin health Metabolic functions
Calories in 1cup (144 gm)	825 Kcal.
Traditional uses	It helps to treat hair greying, hair loss, chronic dry constipation, osteoporosis, dry cough etc. It is useful for ulcers and haemorrhoids. The oil with lime water treats boils, burns and ulcers. The root decoction treats coughs and asthma. The fresh leaves and seeds are used as a poultice. The seeds help to cure piles, respiratory disorders and also used as body massages. Sesame oil also treats gum and teeth ache.
Precautions	It provokes allergic reactions. Sesame oil and seeds are allergen to infants. Some of the symptoms are hives, nasal itching, sneezing, congestion, wheezing, rhinorrhea, tightness of throat, weakness, fainting, cough, difficulty in breathing, rapid heartbeat, hoarse voice, cramps, mouth itchiness, unconsciousness and abdominal pain. Sesame affects the level of blood sugar. Sesame also lowers the blood pressure.
How to Eat	Seed are cooked, roasted or stewed. Seeds are used as flour and added to vegetables, breads and sweetmeats. The grounded powder is mixed with sweetener for making halva. The sprouted seeds are used in salads. Young leaves are added to stews. Seeds are used to make cakes as well. Sesame oil adds the flavor of pickles, spicy foods and condiments. Sesame seeds are added to bread, cookies and muffins. Spread sesame paste on a toasted bread or honey could be drizzled. Sesame seeds could be combined with soy sauce, rice vinegar and crushed garlic and used as a dressing for salads, noodles and vegetables.
Other Facts	The largest importer of Sesame in the world is Japan. Canada, United States, Turkey, Netherlands and France are the other major importers. Seeds are regarded as emollient, tonic, nourishing, lactagogue and diuretic.