India produces more than 35% of the sesame seeds in the world. There are three main types of sesame seeds exported from India – Natural sesame seeds, Hulled Sesame Seeds, and Black Sesame Seeds. The difference between these three types of seeds is based on their color and the type of husk present on them. All these seeds have a great demand in foreign markets for different uses.
Sesame seeds are tiny, oil-rich seeds that grow in pods on the Sesamum indicum plant. Natural Sesame/ Unhulled seeds have the outer, edible husk intact, while hulled seeds come without the husk. The hull gives the seeds a golden-brown hue. Hulled seeds have an off-white color but turn brown when roasted.
Botanical Name: Sesamum Indicum
Common Names: Til
Name in Other Languages:
AJONJOLÍ – Spanish, TIL – Hindi, GOMA – Japanese, SÉSAME – French, Arabic – سمسم (simsim), Chinese – 芝麻 (zhīma), Vietnamese – Vừng or Mè, Malaysia (Malay)- Bijan, Singapore (Mandarin) – 芝麻 (zhīma)