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Black sesame seeds produce a nuttier and richer oil than their white or tan counterparts. It is a healthy fat that contains essential fatty acids and vitamin E, and can help improve heart health and reduce blood pressure. It is commonly used in Asian cooking for sautéing and has a low smoke point.
The white sesame seeds that adorn some hamburger buns are one of three varieties of sesame seeds available worldwide. Sesame seeds can also be tan or black. Black sesame seed is the source of black sesame oil, a vegetable oil that is nuttier and richer in flavor than the oil of its lighter relatives.
Food historians believe that Africans brought sesame seeds to North America and the rest of the world. Growers in China, India and Mexico now produce most of the world’s sesame seeds. Oil producers use all three varieties to make sesame seed oil. There are no major nutritional differences between black sesame oil and sesame seed oil from brown or white seeds.
Black sesame oil is a healthy fat because it is polyunsaturated. When you consume sesame seed oil, it provides essential fatty acids that your body cannot produce. A higher intake of polyunsaturated fat helps improve heart health. This oil contains no unhealthy saturated fats, which should be limited in your daily diet.
All fats are high in calories. When one adds black sesame oil to one’s diet, the sesame oil is supposed to replace the unhealthy fats in the diet rather than just adding them. Replacing sesame oil with less healthy fats allows you to improve nutrition without increasing your calorie intake.
Scientific research indicates that replacing sesame oil with saturated fat when cooking can significantly reduce blood pressure levels. Researchers attribute this benefit to the presence of a plant lignan, sesamin, which appears to impede the absorption of cholesterol. Reducing blood pressure in humans allowed them to reduce their daily doses of blood pressure control drugs.
The oil produced from black sesame seeds is also a good source of vitamin E. This antioxidant vitamin helps the body prevent cell damage caused by aging, certain diseases, and environmental pollutants. Consuming vitamin E also helps the body repair damaged cells.
The process of extracting the oil from sesame seeds varies by manufacturer. Cold pressing produces the least amount of oil but provides the richest flavor while retaining the maximum amount of nutrients. When manufacturers use solvents to extract black sesame oil, the color of the oil will be lighter than that of cold-pressed oil, and the flavor may change.
Black sesame oil is a commonly used ingredient in Asian cooking. Cooks generally use it for sautéing foods instead of frying them. The low smoke point of the oil makes it more likely to burn and develop an unwanted taste than vegetable oils which have a higher smoke point.
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