Sesame

plants · seeds · food crops

Comes from Africa. Sesame plants first grew wild in Africa, and scientists also found wild relatives in India. Today it's grown in warm countries all around the world.

Seeds in pods. The sesame plant makes special pods that hold lots of tiny seeds inside. When the pod is ripe, it splits open to release the seeds.

Feeding billions. In 2024, farmers grew 6.7 million tonnes of sesame worldwide. India, Myanmar, and Sudan are the three biggest producers of this crop.

Many uses. You can eat sesame seeds on your bagel, in your burger bun, or pressed into sesame oil for cooking. They're packed with nutrients that your body needs.