Sesame seeds may be the oldest condiment known to man dating back to as early as 1600 BC.
Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India and Burma. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods.
Sesame seeds are a very good source of copper and a good source of magnesium and calcium. They are highly valued for their high content of sesame oil, an oil that is very resistant to rancidity.