| Sesame | ||||||||||||||
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 Sesame plants | ||||||||||||||
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| Sesamum indicum L. |
Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Sesamum is a genus of approximately 20 species in the flowering plant family Pedaliaceae. The precise natural origin of the species is unknown, although numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds.
It is an annual plant growing to 50 to 100 cm (2-3 feet) tall, with opposite leaves 4 to 14 cm (5. Botanically an annual plant is a Plant that usually germinates, Flowers and dies in one Year. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. 5 in) long with an entire margin; they are broad lanceolate, to 5 cm (2 in) broad, at the base of the plant, narrowing to just 1 cm (half an inch) broad on the flowering stem. In Botany, the following terms are used to describe the shape of plant leaves: Acicular ( acicularis) Slender and pointed needle-like The flowers are white to purple, tubular, 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) long, with a four-lobed mouth. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also
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Origins
Despite the fact that the majority of the wild species of the genus Sesamum are native to sub-saharan Africa, Zohary and Hopf argue that sesame was first domesticated in India. They cite morphological and cytogenetic affinities between domesticated sesame and the south Indian native S. mulayanum Nair. , as well as archeological evidence that it was cultivated at Harappa in the Indus Valley between 2250 and 1750 BC, and a more recent find of charred sesame seeds in Miri Qalat and Shahi Tump in the Makran region of Pakistan. Harappa ( Urdu:, Hindi: हड़प्पा) is a City in Punjab, northeast Pakistan, about 35km (22 miles southwest The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd Makran ( Urdu / Persian: مکران) is a semi-desert coastal strip in the south of Balochistan, in Iran and Pakistan, along Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and They regard the identification of sesame seeds in the finds from the tomb of Tutankhamen from ancient Egypt "might be true, but are in need of further verification. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Many scholars, including the noted Kate Robinson, Saima Ahmed and Richard Thackray, with the research departments of Leeds and Keele Universities, consider the most likely origin of sesame seeds to be Leeds, England. The project was commissioned by leader of the Leicester Sesame Study Commission of 2006, Dr. Neil Simpson. Sesame seeds grow on 7ft sesame plants that give off toxic odors and can produce 1000 seeds daily. The stems also can be used for herbal medicine to cure such things as hangovers and possibly impotence. "[1]
Etymology
The word sesame is from Latin sesamum, borrowed from Greek sēsámon "seed or fruit of the sesame plant", borrowed from Semitic (cf. Aramaic shūmshĕmā, Arabic simsim), from Late Babylonian *shawash-shammu, itself from Assyrian shamash-shammū, from shaman shammī "plant oil".
In India, where sesame has been cultivated since the Harappan period, there are two independent names for it: Sanskrit tila [तिल] (Hindi/Urdu til [तिल, تل]) is the source of all names in North India. In contrast, most of the Dravidian languages in South India feature an independent name for sesame exemplified by Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada ellu [எள்ளு, ಎಳ್ಳು], Telugu "Nuvvulu"(నువ్వులు). Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. In Bengali it is til (তিল).
From all the 3 roots above, words with the generalized meaning “oil; liquid fat” are derived, e. g. , Sanskrit taila [तैल]. Similar semantic shifts from the name of an oil crop to a general word “fat, oil” are also known for other languages, e. g. , “olive” has given rise to English “oil”.
In some languages of the Middle East, sesame is named differently and evolved from Middle Persian kunjid. This has been imported into a few western languages - ex. Russian kunzhut [кунжут], Estonian kunžuut and Yiddish kunzhut [קונזשוט].
Portuguese (Brazil only) gergelim and Spanish ajonjolí (sesame seeds) and Hindi gingli [गिंगली] derive from an Arabic noun jaljala [جلجلة] “sound, echo”, referring to the rattling sound of ripe seeds within the capsule. [2]
In southern US and the Carribbean, where the sesame seed was introduced by Slaves imported from Africa, it is also known by an African name, benne.
Mythological background
According to Assyrian legend, when the gods met to create the world, they drank wine made from sesame seeds. In early Hindu legends, tales are told in which sesame seeds represent a symbol of immortality. "Open sesame," the famous phrase from the Arabian Nights, reflects the distinguishing feature of the sesame seed pod, which bursts open when it reaches maturity. Ali Baba ( Arabic, Persian: علي بابا is a Fictional character based in Ancient Arabia. [3].
It is also used in Urdu literature as proverbs "til dharnay ki jagah na hona"; meaning by, a place so crowded that there is no room for a single seed of sesame and "in tilon mein teil nahee" (ان تلوں میں تیل نہیں); referred for a person who is very mean, meaning by there is no oil left in this sesame.
Uses in food and cuisines
Sesame is grown primarily for its oil-rich seeds, which come in a variety of colors, from cream-white to charcoal-black. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored In general, the paler varieties of sesame seem to be more valued in the West and Middle East, while the black varieties are prized in the Far East. The small sesame seed is used whole in cooking for its rich nutty flavour (although such heating damages their healthful poly-unsaturated fats), and also yields sesame oil. Sesame oil (also known as "gingelly oil" or "til oil" is an edible Vegetable oil derived from Sesame seeds Besides being used as a Cooking
Sesame seeds are sometimes added to breads, including bagels and the tops of hamburger buns. A bagel is a bread product, traditionally made of Yeasted Wheat dough in the form of a roughly hand-sized ring which is first boiled in water and then baked A hamburger (or burger) is a Sandwich consisting of a cooked ground Meat Patty, usually Beef, placed in a sliced bun or between Sesame seeds may be baked into crackers, often in the form of sticks. A cracker is a type of Biscuit that developed from military Hardtack and nautical ship biscuits Sesame seeds are also sprinkled onto some sushi style foods. In Japanese cuisine, is Vinegared Rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish various meats and vegetables Whole seeds are found in many salads and baked snacks as well in Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Tan and black sesame seed varieties are roasted and used for making the flavoring gomashio. Gomashio ( Hiragana: ごま塩; also spelled gomasio) is a dry Condiment, similar to Furikake, made from unhulled In Greece seeds are used in cakes, while in Togo, seeds are a main soup ingredient. TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company famous for inventing the Stand-up roller coaster. The seeds are also eaten on bread in Sicily and France (called "ficelle sésame", sesame thread). About one-third of the sesame crop imported by the United States from Mexico is purchased by McDonald's for their sesame seed buns (The Nut Factory 1999). [4] In Punjab province of Pakistan and Tamil Nadu state of India, a sweet ball called "Pinni" (پنی) in Urdu and 'Ell urundai' in Tamil, is made of its seeds mixed with sugar. The Punjab ( Urdu:) province of Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Also in Tamil Nadu, 'Milakai Podi', a ground powder made of sesame and dry chili is used to enhance flavor and consumed along with other traditional foods such as idli. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. History Although the precise history of the modern idli is unknown it is a very old food in southern Indian cuisine Sesame (benne) seed cookies and wafers, both sweet and savory, are still consumed today in places like Charleston, South Carolina - and the seeds are believed to have been brought into 17th century colonial America by West African slaves.
Ground and processed, the seeds can also be used in sweet confections. Sesame seeds can be made into a paste called tahini (used in various ways, including in hummus) and a Middle Eastern confection called halvah. Tahini, or sesame paste, is a paste of ground Sesame seeds used in cooking For the biological matter in soil see Humus; for the band see Humus (band. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Types Most types of halva are relatively dense confections that are sweetened with Sugar or Honey. In India, sections of the Middle East, and East Asia, popular treats are made from sesame mixed with honey or syrup and roasted (called pasteli in Greece). India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the In Cooking, a syrup (from Arabic' ar شراب sharab, beverage via Latin siropus) is a thick Viscous Liquid Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία In Japanese cuisine goma-dofu (胡麻豆腐) is made from sesame paste and starch. Japanese Cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide
East Asian cuisines, like Chinese cuisine use sesame seeds and oil in some dishes, such as dim sum, sesame seed balls (traditional Chinese: 麻糰; pinyin: mátuǎn or 煎堆; Cantonese: jin deui), and the Vietnamese bánh rán. Chinese cuisine ( Traditional Chinese: 中國菜 Simplified Chinese: 中国菜 originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in Dim sum is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea. Jin deui is a type of fried Chinese pastry made from Glutinous rice flour and commonly found in the Far East. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Bánh rán is a deep-fried glutinous rice ball from northern Vietnamese cuisine Sesame flavour (through oil and roasted or raw seeds) is also very popular in Korean cuisine, used to marinate meat and vegetables. Korean cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political change Chefs in tempura restaurants blend sesame and cottonseed oil for deep-frying. is a classic Japanese dish of deep fried battered Vegetables or Seafood. Cottonseed oil is a Vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the Cotton plant after the Cotton has been removed Sesame oil was the preferred cooking oil in India until the advent of groundnut (peanut) oil. Sesame oil (also known as "gingelly oil" or "til oil" is an edible Vegetable oil derived from Sesame seeds Besides being used as a Cooking India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country
Although sesame leaves are edible as a potherb[1], recipes for Korean cuisine calling for "sesame leaves" are often a mistranslation, and really mean perilla[2]. Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, greens, or leafy greens, are plant leaves eaten as a Vegetable, sometimes accompanied Korean cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political change Perilla is a genus of annual Herb that is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae.
 A simit is a small circular Turkish bread with sesame seeds |  Thai workers harvesting sesame |  Dry sesame seeds |
Nutrition and health treatments
The seeds are rich in manganese, copper, and calcium (90 mg per tablespoon[5] for unhulled seeds, 10 mg for hulled), and contain vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin E (tocopherol). A simit ( Turkish) koulouri ( Greek: κουλούρι đevrek ( Serbian: ђеврек or gevrek (геврек is a circular The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 For the similarly spelled pyrimidine see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 Tocopherol, a class of chemical compounds of which many have Vitamin E activity describes a series of Organic compounds consisting of various methylated phenols [6] They contain lignans, including unique content of sesamin, which are phytoestrogens with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. The lignans are a group of Chemical compounds found in Plants particularly in flax seed Sesamin is a Lignan isolated from the bark of Fagara plants and from Sesame oil. Phytoestrogens, sometimes called "dietary estrogens" are a diverse group of naturally occurring non steroidal plant compounds that because of their structural similarity with An antioxidant is a Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled Among edible oils from six plants, sesame oil had the highest antioxidant content[7]. Sesame seeds also contain phytosterols associated with reduced levels of blood cholesterol, but do not contain caffeine. Phytosterols (also called plant sterols) are a group of steroid alcohols, Phytochemicals naturally occurring in Plants. Cholesterol is a Lipid found in the Cell membranes and transported in the Blood plasma of all Animals It is an essential component of mammalian Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline Xanthine Alkaloid that acts as a Psychoactive Stimulant Drug and a mild Diuretic The nutrients of sesame seeds are better absorbed if they are ground or pulverized before consumption.
Women of ancient Babylon would eat halva, a mixture of honey and sesame seeds to prolong youth and beauty, while Roman soldiers ate the mixture for strength and energy [8]. Types Most types of halva are relatively dense confections that are sweetened with Sugar or Honey.
While sesame seeds are generally considered nutritious, they produce one of the uncommon food allergies, 5-13 per 100,000 . A food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein
There have been erroneous claims that sesame seeds also contain THC which may be detectable on random screening. For the episode of the American television series The Office, see " Drug Testing " This error stems from a misunderstanding of the commercial drug Dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC. The normal delivery mechanism for synthetic Dronabinol is via infusion into sesame oil and encapsulation into soft gelatin capsules. As a result some people are under the mistaken assumption that sesame oil naturally contains THC. In fact, THC, CBD, CBN and the other cannibinoids are unique to the Cannabis genus. Cannabis ( Cán-na-bis) is a Genus of Flowering plants that includes three putative species Cannabis sativa subsp
Sesame oil is used for massage and health treatments of the body in the ancient Indian ayurvedic system with the types of massage called abhyanga and shirodhara. Sesame oil (also known as "gingelly oil" or "til oil" is an edible Vegetable oil derived from Sesame seeds Besides being used as a Cooking Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other Shirodhara is a form of Ayurveda medicine that involves gently pouring liquids over the forehead (the ' Third eye ' Ayurveda views sesame oil as the most viscous of the plant oils and believes it may pacify the health problems associated with Vata aggravation. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other
Cultivation
Sesame is grown in many parts of the world on over 5 million acres (20,000 km²). The biggest area of production is currently believed to be India, but the crop is also grown in China, Burma, Sudan, Mexico and Ethiopia et al. US commercial production reportedly began in the 1950s. Area in the U. S. , primarily in Texas and southwestern states, has ranged from 10,000 to 20,000 acres (40 to 80 km²) in recent years; however, the U. S. imports more sesame than it grows. [9]
Pests
Sesame is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the Turnip Moth. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. The Turnip Moth ( Agrotis segetum) is a Moth of the family Noctuidae.
See also
Notes
- ^ Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, Domestication of plants in the Old World, third edition (Oxford: University Press, 2000),pp. Za'atar (زعتر also spelled satar, zahatar or zatr) is a mixture of herbs and Spices used as a Condiment with 140f
- ^ Spice Pages: Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum)
- ^ WHFoods: Sesame seeds
- ^ Food, Industrial, Nutraceutical, and Pharmaceutical Uses of Sesame Genetic Resources
- ^ http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
- ^ WHFoods: Sesame seeds
- ^ Cheung SC, Szeto YT, Benzie IF. (2007). Antioxidant protection of edible oils. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2007 Mar;62(1):39-42. Abstract.
- ^ Positive Health Magazine - Article Abstract
- ^ Growing Sesame: Production tips, economics, and more
External links
- Sesame and "Open Sesame"
- Sesamum indicum in Flora of Pakistan
- Katzer's Spice Pages: Sesame
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