What are Sesame Seeds?

Sesamum indicum most commonly known as sesame is a flowering plant in the genus sesamum, also called benne.Sesame varieties have adapted to many soil types. The high-yielding crops thrive best on well-drained, fertile soils of medium texture and neutral pH. However, these have low tolerance for soils with high salt and water-logged conditions.

Source of Sesame Seeds

World production in 2016 was 6.1 million tons, with Tanzania, Myanmar, India, and Sudan as the largest producers. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods.

Sesame Seeds and Nutrition

• A 3-tablespoon (30-gram) serving of sesame seeds supplies 12% of the RDI for fiber, which is vital for your digestive health.
• Sesame seeds may help reduce heart disease risk factors, including elevated triglyceride and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.
• Sesame seeds are high in magnesium, which may help lower blood pressure.
• Unhulled sesame seeds are especially rich in nutrients vital to bone health, including calcium.
• Preliminary research suggests that sesame seeds and their oil may have anti-inflammatory properties.
• .Sesame seeds are a good source of several nutrients that are important for immune system function, including zinc, selenium, copper, iron, vitamin B6, and vitamin E

Uses

It’s most common use is as a cooking oil or a seeds.

• Sesame seeds may be baked into sweets.
• Sesame seeds are added to bread.
• Sesame seeds are made into a paste which is eaten in many Middle Eastern countries.

Users

Food manufacturers use sesame seeds to produce oil and baking supplements.

• Candy manufactures
• Oil companies
• Restaurants
• Food processing companies.

Types & Forms

Sesame seeds are found in two main forms which are natural sesame and hulled sesame. Sesame seeds are found in different colors and types. Each type has a different oil content:

• White Algedaref sesame seeds: these seeds external shells color varies from white to a yellowish color, provided that the colored seeds do not exceed 5%.           
• White sesame seeds: these seeds external shells color varies from white to a yellowish color, provided that the colored seeds do not exceed 10%.
• Mixed sesame seeds: these seeds contain a maximum of 25% of colored seeds.
• Red sesame seeds: these seeds external shells color vary from golden to a brownish color, and may contain 26% or more colored seeds.

Specification Data Sheet

This Sudanese standard is formulated by the technical committee No.4 formed according to the administrative decree of the SSM0/1/A/Idated 18/8/01. It applies to Sesame Seeds. On formulating this standard the committee has referred to international publications and works of Sudanese researchers on the subject.

Sesame Seeds exporting process

• Our sesame is packed in 50 kg polypropylene (PP) bags.
• Is loaded in 20 feet containers with up to 19 metric tons of the sesame seeds.
• The minimum order quantity (20ft FCL) takes a time period of 10 to 15 days to be on board of the vessel, this period varies depending on the quantity ordered.
• The port of loading is PORTSUDAN (SDPZU), with a possibility to re-export from other nearby ports.
• Estimated time to reach the clients desired port depends on the shipping lines used and the distance to that port, usually varies between 2 to 8 weeks for the farthest destination.
• The H.S code for the sesame seeds is 12074090 (*)
• Payment terms and documents provided along with the shipment.
• Sudanese sesame is falling among the products which the US sanctions against Sudan has not exempted, therefore cannot be exported directly from PORTSUDAN to the US market unless obtaining a special OFAC license.

(*) Need to be confirmed form each country customs authorities.