28 Foods You Must Eat to Fight Aging - Optimal Nutrition 09

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Publish Date: 2006-08-01
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Brief Introduction: Sesame, also known as Hu Ma, Zhi Ma, or Wu Ma, is both edible and used as an oil source. There are two varieties of sesame—black and white—where white sesame is preferred for consumption, while black sesame is considered better for medicinal purposes. Ancient health practitioners like Tao Hongjing praised it as, "Among the eight grains, only this one is excellent."
Harvesting: The plants are cut when the fruits are ripe in autumn, dried, and the seeds are collected and then further dried.
Characteristics: The seeds are flat and oval-shaped, with a black surface that is smooth or has a net-like pattern. They are rich in oil. The aroma is faint, and the taste is sweet with an oily fragrance.
Related History: Sesame was originally called Hu Ma and is said to have been introduced to China by Zhang Qian during the Western Han Dynasty. However, scientific research has confirmed that sesame originated in China's Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Archaeological findings of ancient sesame seeds in the Neolithic Qianshan Lake Site in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, and the Prehistoric Shuitianfan Site in Hangzhou have proven that China is the homeland of sesame. P6