Sesame & tahini
Untoasted sesame seeds, raw tahini — king of plant calcium.
The ancestral story
Cultivated in Mesopotamia and India for millennia, sesame gives us the tahini of the Levant, halva, and the gomasio of macrobiotics. In Japan, toasted black sesame and salt make the condiment that accompanies everyday rice.
What it is
Sesame is one of the oldest cultivated oilseeds. Raw, whole sesame is rich in calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and lignans (sesamin, sesamolin) with antioxidant properties. Stone-ground, it becomes tahini — a liquid treasure for bones, the nervous system and energy.
White sesame is mild; black sesame is more mineral and deep. As a variation, pumpkin-seed butter offers a green alternative, rich in zinc.
What it unfolds in the body
Plant calcium
Whole sesame is among the densest plant sources of calcium; well ground (tahini), it is better assimilated. An ally of bones and nervous system.
Antioxidant lignans
Sesamin and sesamolin are lignans studied for their antioxidant and protective action — the seed's subtle signature.
The methionine secret of hummus
Sesame is rich in methionine, the sulfur amino acid that pulses carry more discreetly. Chickpea and tahini thus complete each other into a complete protein — this is the secret of hummus.
Subtle signature
'Open, sesame.' The smallest of seeds keeps a treasure: dense calcium, a precious oil, a hazelnut flavour. Cultivated since the dawn of agriculture, it travels through every cuisine in the world. Its vibration is one of quiet density — great strength in very little matter.
Bovis scale — indicative, never dogmatic.
How I use it
We use raw tahini in sauces, vinaigrettes and sweets, black sesame for depth, gomasio over bowls. As a variation, pumpkin-seed butter. Always preferably raw or barely toasted.
In the kitchen
Frequently asked
Raw or toasted sesame?▾
Raw sesame keeps all of its fatty acids and lignans; a light toasting develops aroma. We avoid heavy roasting that oxidises the oils. Raw tahini remains our base.
Sources
Each source is ranked within a three-level ethical framework: documented tradition, recognised independent researcher, verified peer-reviewed study with no declared conflict of interest.
- Level 1
Sésame & tahin — Mésopotamie, Levant ; gomasio macrobiotique japonais