Food - Drink
Most Of The World's Sesame Seeds Come From This Country
By HALDAN KIRSCH
For many of us, sesame seeds are for topping bagels or hamburger buns, but sesame is actually the oldest oilseed crop in the world, and the seeds can be made into paste, oil, or other super-versatile forms. Often harvested by hand, sesame seeds are also a pricey endeavor, but one country in particular excels at growing them.
The sesame plant requires very hot and dry conditions to thrive, and though Britannica points out that the plant is likely native to Eastern Africa or Asia, the Saharan-African country of Sudan is the biggest producer of sesame seeds today. Sudan produces an average of over 832,000 tons of sesame seeds per year.
Sesame plays a role in Sudanese dishes such as Basico, a sesame, greens, and meat dish, and Halawa Simsim candy. The country produces 100,000 tons more sesame seeds than the second-largest global producer, India, and sesame has long played a role in mythology and cuisine across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.