KNOWLEDGE

HISTORY OF SESAME

According to historical research, the cultivation of sesame might have started before 3000 B.C. in the Nile River Valley in Egypt. Records shown that it was used not only for food, but also for lamps, incense and medicines in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
 
In China, sesame has been excavated from the ruins of the Yellow River civilization, which flourished around 3000 B.C., showing that it was cultivated from ancient times. Fully-fledged dissemination has taken place around 50 B.C. when Buddhism was introduced. The demand for sesame dramatically increased because it was used for ritual lamp oil. At the time sesame and sesame oil also became popular in food culture, and they were used in cooking abundantly.