Sesame Seed - "Queen of Oils"
Popularly known as "benne seed", sesame grows in tropical regions around the world. Most species of this plant are wild (they were not planted) and can grow in harsh conditions and drought-like areas that do not support the growth of plants, some species are native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Tanzania, Sudan and Nigeria are the largest producers of sesame seeds in Africa. Sesame also grows in India, Myanmar and China. The sesame plant is a bush and the seeds grow in pods, similar to okra. It requires little farming support and thrives in intense heat, little, or too-much rainfall, leading to the name "The Survivor Crop". The pods are covered in tiny hairs and begin to ripen, dry and finally open from the bottom of the stalk upwards. The dry pods are harvested by hand and stored upright to get completely dry until all pods open, releasing the seeds inside. The stalks are shaken, or beaten to release the seeds, then sifted to remove twigs and other debris. Sesame...