Sesame seed is harvested from an annual flowering plant thought to be native to Africa and now widely distributed throughout much of Asia and the Middle East. It is grown for export in several countries, with India and China leading as the top producers.
Hulled white sesame seeds are widely used in Middle Eastern, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisines. They are found in many Chinese dim sum dishes, for example. The hulled seasame seeds are also ground into a paste called tahini, which is used as a dip or spread and also as a base for Middle Eastern specialties like hummus and the confection halvah.
