How Does Sesame Grow? What Growing the Plant Looks Like
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This is the first post in our new “how does it grow” series. You’ve probably wondered more than once how all those fruits and vegetables you find in shops actually grow (also read: How to season steamed vegetables?). Most of us know how apples, pears, or carrots grow. But what about the more “exotic” ingredients? We’re kicking off the series with a product widely used in Indian and Japanese cuisine, one that’s becoming increasingly popular in our own kitchens too. We’re talking about tiny white seeds (though not only white) with a sweet, slightly nutty flavor. We’re talking about sesame.
What Indian Sesame Looks Like
Indian sesame, the variety we’ll focus on here, is the most popular type used in cooking. It’s an annual oil crop that reaches an average height of 1.5 meters. Its leaves are long, narrow, and light green in color. When they start turning yellow, that’s a clear sign the sesame is ready for harvest. Another distinctive feature is the flowers, which are usually white, though sometimes purple or yellow. In shape, they resemble small bells with a protruding “tongue”.
Indian sesame, the variety we’ll focus on here, is the most popular type used in cooking. It’s an annual oil crop that reaches an average height of 1.5 meters. Its leaves are long, narrow, and light green in color. When they start turning yellow, that’s a clear sign the sesame is ready for harvest. Another distinctive feature is the flowers, which are usually white, though sometimes purple or yellow. In shape, they resemble small bells with a protruding “tongue”.
The last characteristic feature is the fruit, arguably the most interesting part of the plant, since it’s what hides the prized sesame seeds. The fruit takes the form of small capsules, or pods, each containing up to a hundred seeds. Interestingly, sesame is a self-pollinating plant, and the whole pollination process takes only a few days.
Where Is Sesame Most Commonly Grown?
Sesame is grown primarily in India, China, and Central American countries such as Mexico and Guatemala, though it can also be found in parts of Europe, for example in Greece or France. It’s a plant that needs specific growing conditions. In its early stages, it requires plenty of watering, ideally paired with loose, well-draining soil. Temperature is another key factor. Sesame doesn’t tolerate cold well, and temperatures below 0°C can kill the plant outright. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s most commonly cultivated in very warm countries such as India or various African nations. In Europe, only countries in the southern part of the continent stand a real chance of growing sesame successfully.
Uses of Sesame
Sesame seeds are used in countless dishes from cuisines around the world. They’re a perfect fit for Japanese cooking, for example as a topping for sushi. They also work wonderfully on hamburger buns or ordinary bread. And of course, let’s not forget about sweets — you’ve almost certainly come across sweet sesame snacks or sesame-based baked goods.
We also shouldn’t forget the products made from sesame itself — after all, who hasn’t come across sesame oil, or the less well-known but equally aromatic tahini, a sesame paste that’s frequently used in Chinese and Korean cooking.
As you can see, sesame has countless uses and can be turned into all sorts of delicious dishes! We hope you enjoyed this post about how sesame grows, and please forgive any small errors or omissions — and stay tuned for more posts in our “how does it grow” series.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall does the sesame plant grow?
Indian sesame, the most popular culinary variety, is an annual oil crop that reaches an average height of 1.5 meters, with long, narrow, light green leaves.
How can you tell when sesame is ready to harvest?
The signal that sesame is ready for harvest is the leaves changing color from light green to yellow.
What do sesame flowers look like?
Sesame flowers are usually white, less often purple or yellow, and in shape they resemble small bells with a tongue.
