Introduction to Sesame Products

I. Origin and Varieties

Sesame is an ancient oilseed crop, native to Africa. It is now cultivated in many tropical and temperate regions around the world. Common sesame varieties mainly include white sesame, black sesame and yellow sesame.

1. White Sesame

• The seed coat of white sesame is white, with plump grains and usually has a relatively high oil content. Its oil is clear and transparent, with a refreshing taste and a faint nutty aroma. White sesame is widely used in food processing and is often used to make pastries, candies, tahini, etc., which can add unique flavor and color to the products.

2. Black Sesame

• The seed coat of black sesame is black and is rich in a variety of nutrients such as protein, vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids, etc. It has a strong fragrance and a mellow taste. In addition to being used for oil extraction, black sesame is also one of the important raw materials in traditional Chinese medicine and is believed to have the effects of tonifying the liver and kidney, nourishing essence and blood, etc. In terms of food, it is often made into black sesame paste, fillings for glutinous rice balls, etc., and is popular among consumers.

3. Yellow Sesame

• Yellow sesame is relatively rare, and its seed coat is yellow or light yellow. The flavor of yellow sesame is relatively unique, with both the mellow aroma of sesame and a faint sweet fragrance. It is used in some local specialty foods. For example, some traditional pastries in certain regions use yellow sesame to increase the layering of taste and flavor.

II. Cultivation and Harvest

1. Cultivation Conditions

• Sesame is suitable for growing in a warm, sunny and well - drained soil environment. It has relatively high requirements for soil fertility and generally prefers loose, fertile sandy loam soil. The growth cycle of sesame is relatively short, and it takes about 80 - 120 days from sowing to harvest, which enables it to achieve a multi - cropping pattern in some regions.

2. Harvesting Methods

• Sesame is usually harvested after the plants mature. When the leaves of the sesame plants begin to turn yellow and fall off, the color of the fruits changes from green to the mature color (white for white sesame, black for black sesame, etc.), and the seeds inside the fruits have fully developed and matured, it can be harvested. The main harvesting methods are manual harvesting and mechanical harvesting. Manual harvesting can more accurately select mature plants, but the efficiency is low. Mechanical harvesting is more efficient, but it may mix some incompletely mature plants and requires further screening later.

III. Processing

1. Sesame Oil Extraction

• Sesame oil extraction is one of the main processing methods of sesame. First, the sesame is cleaned to remove impurities, dust, etc. Then it is roasted. The purpose of roasting is to stimulate the flavor of sesame and make the internal oil of sesame more easily extracted. The roasted sesame is pressed by pressing equipment, and the obtained sesame oil can be divided into cold - pressed sesame oil and hot - pressed sesame oil according to different pressing processes. Cold - pressed sesame oil retains more sesame nutrients and natural flavor, with a lighter color and a delicate fragrance. Hot - pressed sesame oil has a darker color and a strong fragrance, but the nutrient content is relatively slightly lost.

2. Sesame Product Processing

• In addition to oil extraction, sesame is also processed into a variety of foods. For example, to make tahini, the sesame is roasted and then ground into a fine paste. Tahini can be used for mixing noodles, dipping, etc., with a mellow taste. Sesame powder is made by grinding sesame into powder, which can be eaten directly or added to various foods to increase nutrition and flavor. In addition, sesame can also be used as an ingredient in making baked goods such as pastries, bread, biscuits, etc., to improve the taste and quality of the products.

IV. Nutritional Value and Efficacy

1. Nutritional Value

• Sesame is rich in protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins (such as vitamin B group, vitamin E, etc.), minerals (such as calcium, iron, zinc, etc.) and other nutrients. Among them, the content of unsaturated fatty acids is relatively high, which is beneficial to human cardiovascular health. Vitamin E has antioxidant effects and can delay aging and protect cells from free radical damage. Sesame is rich in mineral content. For example, the relatively high content of calcium helps bone health.

2. Efficacy and Function

• From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, sesame has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidney, nourishing essence and blood, moistening the intestines and relieving constipation. It has a certain improvement effect on symptoms such as dizziness and blurred vision, premature graying of hair and beard caused by liver and kidney deficiency. In modern medical research, the nutrients in sesame are found to have the effects of reducing cholesterol, preventing cardiovascular diseases, improving intestinal function, etc. Its rich oil component can also moisturize the skin and has a certain relief effect on skin dryness and other problems.