Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Black Vs. White Sesame Seeds
Black Vs. White Sesame Seeds. Sesame seeds are small, oily seeds that are native to Africa, Asia and the Middle East. They are used in many recipes for savory and sweet foods and baked goods. The white sesame seed is more commonly available in grocery stores, but black sesame seeds are becoming more common in North American cuisine and households.
Sesame seeds are small, oily seeds that are native to Africa, Asia and the Middle East. They are used in many recipes for savory and sweet foods and baked goods. The white sesame seed is more commonly available in grocery stores, but black sesame seeds are becoming more common in North American cuisine and households.
Shell
Black sesame seeds are not hulled, meaning they retain their shells. White sesame seeds are hulled, meaning their shells are removed. There are a wide variety of each black and white sesame seeds, and white sesame seeds have black, red or brown hulls. Because black sesame seeds retain their hull or shell, they are not always a uniform black color. They can be light brown, dark brown or black, while white sesame seeds are always white once hulled.
Varieties
Even though black sesame seeds are not hulled and white sesame seeds are hulled, that does not mean that white sesame seeds are always just black sesame seeds with no shells. They are two different varieties of sesame seed, which is the seed of the flowering sesame plant.
Flavor
Black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds have different flavors and textures, although because the seeds are so small the flavor differences can be difficult to notice. Black sesame seeds are crispier with a more nutty and smoky flavor, while white sesame seeds are soft with a duller but sweet flavor.
Uses
Black sesame seeds are primarily used for decoration or added flavor on a variety of foods, including sushi, Asian dishes, pastries, pasta dishes and even cupcakes, sometimes in addition to white sesame seeds. Foods that are made from sesame seeds, such as sesame seed candy or tahini, which is a sesame seed paste, are only made from white sesame seeds. Sesame oil comes from both types of seeds, and is used in cooking, medicine and for skin care.
Nutrition
Black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds are similar in nutrition, although because black sesame seeds retain their hulls they are higher in calcium. Both seeds are a good source of zinc, riboflavin, niacin and thiamine, along with iron.
