Sesame grows? Application and properties of sesame seeds

Sesame (another name - "sesame") - a popular seasoning, which is added to various bakery products. It is actively used as an additive to vegetable salads. Sesame seeds are used for cooking oil, which has medicinal properties. Of these, also make halva.

How does he look in nature

We all know the useful properties of sesame seeds. They not only give a certain piquant taste to products, but also have a very large set of trace elements, vitamins and nutrients that are indispensable for the human body. In the bakery industry, one of the most popular additives is sesame. How does it grow in nature?

This is an annual plant, which under favorable conditions reaches 0.60-1.5 meters in height. He has a powerful stem root. The stem is green in color or reddish, very branchy, starting from the ground.

Flowers and fruits

The leaves of this plant can be smooth or slightly corrugated, up to 10-30 centimeters in length - this is how traditional sesame looks. How does the fetus grow and form? At first large flowers appear with five stamens, but only four are developed normally. Sometimes in nature there is a failure, and on the flower there are as many as ten stamens.

After a certain period, a fetus appears. It is an elongated pointed box that has a size of only 3-5 centimeters - that's what a sesame plant fruit looks like. As it grows - whether there were favorable conditions, whether the plant received enough moisture and so on - so much quality seeds are obtained.

Kind of seeds and their useful properties

After ripening the capsule, sesame seeds are extracted from it. They are small, about 3 millimeters in length, and have a flat ovoid shape. Usually they are yellowish, white, but often there are black, and also brown.

Sesame: how it grows and where it occurs

It is worth noting that this culture has long been domesticated, it is grown for industrial purposes. In the wild, the same sesame can be found only in Africa. On the territory of Russia it is grown mainly in Transcaucasia, Central Asia and the North Caucasus. Large plantations of this plant can be seen in Korea and China, India, in tropical Africa.

Of course, it's interesting to see how sesame grows. Photos of this plant vividly show the powerful extensive plantations of this culture, which requires a lot of sun and heat. That is why this plant grows mainly in the southern latitudes. Although some summer residents have learned to cultivate this culture in the middle zone. Surely they have studied how and where sesame grows, what are the conditions for normal seed ripening. And now many lovers of digging in the garden grow this exotic plant in a completely uncharacteristic environment.

How to collect seeds

We all remember the eastern fairy tale about Ali Baba, where he spoke to the cave: "Open, open, sesame." Remember that sesame seeds are sometimes called sesame. And this fabulous password is associated with the fact that pods of sesame are very fragile. The slightest wind or touch - and they immediately burst, and valuable seeds are on the ground.

This feature is taken into account when harvesting, when it comes time to collect sesame seeds. As it grows and ripens - this is followed closely by the field crops, so it is important not to miss the harvest. The fruits are not allowed to fully ripen, the pods are torn off slightly unsuccessfully. Otherwise, all the seeds will be scattered.

Historical facts

It is interesting that the mention of this culture is found even in ancient times. For example, in Egyptian papyri, as well as in Assyrian myths. In the latter it is told that before the creation of the world the gods decided to drink wine from sesame.

In ancient China 7 thousand years ago, sesame oil was used for lamps. Seeds were fried and made them soot for ink.

According to historians, sesame came to America through African slaves, which were massively imported to the mainland. This plant quickly gained popularity on the new continent.

But the inhabitants of Babylon made sesame wine and brandy, baked sesame pies. They actively used the oil obtained from the plant in the kitchen, and also as a toilet for body hygiene.

The ancient Egyptians used sesame as a medicine.

Useful material

It is not for nothing that ancient people considered sesame a plant that imparts immortality to man. After all, in seeds that contain up to 60 percent oil, a lot of useful substances, trace elements and vitamins.

Here is the incomplete chemical composition of sesame oil. It contains glycerides of the following acids:

• Stearic (4-6%);
• Oleic (35-48%);
• Arachine (up to 1.0%);
• Lignoceric;
• Linoleic (37-48%);
• Palmitic (7-8%).

It is worth noting that these unsaturated fatty acids are perfectly absorbed by the body.

Also in the composition of sesame are:

• Sesamine (chloroform);
• Sesamolin;
• Phytosterol;
• Vitamin E;
• Sesamol;
• The self.

But the usual for other vegetable oils, vitamin A in sesame is not.

Indispensable in the kitchen

Here is a useful product - sesame. Its use in cooking is quite common in all countries. We all know fragrant buns with sesame, baking, bread, crackers. Many people tend to add roasted seeds to salads and vegetable dishes. Sesame seeds can be sprinkled with fried fish or pork chops. Seeds perfectly decorate any hot dish and give it a piquant taste.

White sesame is used for desserts. Very popular sesame halva, which has a tender taste and a completely charming milky shade.

In Korea, sesame leaves are used for food - they are fried and seasoned with sauce. In the leaves are also wrapped vegetables and rice, marinate them and stew.

Medical Properties

In medicine, sesame oil has been used for a long time both inside and outside. It improves the indicator, such as blood coagulability. Applying oil inside, you can achieve an increase in platelets in the blood. Just do not get carried away and you should be careful.

Actively sesame oil is used as a basis for creams, various ointments and patches. Sesame seeds have a slight laxative effect.

It's good to rub the chest area with oil, heated on a water bath to 36-38 degrees. Perfectly heals sesame oil ulcers and gastritis.

With these diseases, it is recommended to take one tablespoon of sesame oil 1-3 times a day. It will perfectly relieve you of constipation - one tablespoon in the morning, and there will be no problems with the intestines.

High calorie oil is indispensable for recuperation.

If irritation develops on the skin, lubricate this area with ointment, which includes sesame oil. It is excellent for dermatitis, skin damage. You can apply a bandage, which is impregnated with oil, or simply lubricate the skin.

If you have caught a cold, you can drip a drop of oil in the nasal passages, but pre-heat it in a water bath.

Sesame seeds can be used to cleanse the body. Pound 15 grams of seeds into powder, mix with water. This mixture should be consumed 3 times a day before meals.

Some useful tips

To flavor the seeds of sesame seeds, it is necessary to fry them. Do this in a dry hot pan until the seeds begin to slightly "bounce".

Do not put a lot of sesame oil in the dish. Even a small amount of it will give a delicate nutty taste.

Do not buy a lot of seeds for future use - because of their fat content, they can become bitter with time. To prevent this, keep them in a sealed container and always in a dark place.