What Are Sesame Seeds?

Sesame seeds, called til in Hindi, are one of the oldest cultivated oilseeds, with a place in Indian cooking that goes back further than most ingredients in a modern pantry. They show up whole, roasted, ground into chutney, or pressed into oil.

What actually defines them

A small, flat oilseed with a mild, nutty flavour that becomes noticeably stronger once roasted.
Known as til in Hindi and central to sweets, chutneys and tempering across many regional Indian cuisines.
Comes in a few colour varieties, most commonly white and black, which differ in flavour intensity and traditional use.
High in oil content, which is why sesame has long been pressed into cooking oil alongside being eaten as a seed.
Used both raw and roasted, though roasting is far more common in Indian recipes for its stronger developed flavour.

Picked this week

Sesame to try

Najirpur Farm I · Najirpur

Sesame Seed

$1.71 · 1 KG

Najirpur Farm I · Najirpur

Roasted Sesame Seeds

$2.07 · 1 KG

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Sesame seed questions

Is til the same as sesame seed?: Yes, til is simply the Hindi name for sesame seed, the same seed sold under either term.
Are sesame seeds always roasted before eating?: Not always, but most Indian recipes call for roasted sesame, since roasting develops a much stronger, nuttier flavour.
How old is sesame cultivation in India?: Very old, sesame is considered one of the earliest oilseed crops cultivated on the subcontinent, with deep culinary and ritual roots.
Can sesame seeds be pressed into oil?: Yes, sesame oil is a traditional pressed oil, sold separately from the whole seed for cooking use.

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