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 seeds are small, about 3-4mm long and 2mm wide, oval in shape, with one end wider than the other (similar to the shape of melon seeds). The stalks produce quite a lot of seed, however their yield is very little, a row of sesame plants measuring 10 by 2 feet long will only produce about 500g of seeds.



Sesame seeds have a rich nutty aroma and taste and are high in calcium, iron, vitamin B-6 and magnesium. It has been cultivated for over 4,000 years and forms part of the diet of the people of Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. There are various varieties, with some being white, creamy, yellow or black in color. Sesame seeds are used to prepare soup in many countries on the continent. Sometimes the seeds are grounded using a mortar or a hand mill, then fried with palm oil and garnished with vegetables and other seasoning. Because of its nutritional content, sesame seed is believed to be useful in improving the health of those who eat it; lowering  blood pressure, helping with diabetes, obesity and anemia, as well as reducing cholesterol levels in the body.


Sesame seeds are also used to prepare light meals, lightly roasted and salted to take as a snack in itself, or as a garnish for other snacks. Sesame is prepared as a sweet and savory dessert, cut into cubes called "kantu". It is prepared with sugar, honey and lemons, and is quite filling.




Sesame seed has the highest oil content of any seed oil. The oil is derived from crushing and pressing the seeds, usually with an expresser press machine. Oil intended for cooking is sometimes roasted lightly to enhance its flavor, while the oil for cosmetic use is pressed without applying heat, this helps to preserve the rich content of the oil absorbed by the skin. The color of the oil varies from light yellow, to deep reddish yellow, depending on the color of the seeds pressed and methods used to extract the oil.


Applied on the skin, sesame seed oil is rich in zinc which helps in the production of collagen. Collagen assists the body to repair damaged tissue, this helps to maintain skin elasticity, which prevents wrinkles. Sesame oil also helps to reduce uneven coloration, helping your skin against dark spots. The presence of magnesium, in combination with phytosterols and phytic acid in sesame seed oil, protects your skin from Ultra-Violet rays, making it a useful oil in cancer prevention - a natural sun-block.
Other skin benefits of Sesame oil include calming skin that has been burnt by sun exposure,  reducing swelling and itching of veins, as well as nourishing and feeding the scalp, controlling dry scalp and killing off dandruff. When used on children's hair, sesame seed oil helps to kill lice. You can also use this oil to remove oil and dirt from your face - a natural skin cleanser.



Find all these benefits, and more, of sesame seed oil in our products. Try our Oil Cleanser to remove makeup and dirt from your face, use it once or twice, especially at night - Yes, never sleep with your makeup on.
Nourish your skin, and baby's skin, with our Baby's Choice - Body & Hair Oil. It is made of Sesame Oil, Baobab Oil, Atile Oil, Black Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil infused with Calendula Petals and laced with a tiny amount of Chamomile and Lavender essential oils, and Oat Extract for their soothing properties.

The best Natural Skincare Products in Africa are found at Adonmu.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube and find out more. You can also place your orders via any of our social media channels.

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