Natural Sesame Seeds

Natural Sesame Seeds from Pakistan

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is one of the world’s oldest cultivated oilseed crops, valued for its rich oil content (48-55%), nutty flavour, and nutritional profile. Pakistani sesame is grown in the Kharif (summer) season across Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. The seeds are harvested when the capsules mature and begin to split, then sun-dried, cleaned, and graded at processing facilities. Pakistan produces sesame in multiple natural colour varieties, each with its own market positioning and end-use applications.

Specifications

• Crop: Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

• Oil Content: 48-55%

• Protein: 18-25%

• Moisture: 5-7% max

• FFA (Free Fatty Acid): < 2%

• Purity: 99% (standard), 99.5% (premium), 99.9% (sortex clean)

• Admixture: < 1%

• Aflatoxin: < 10 ppb (food grade)

• Salmonella: Absent

• Pesticide Residues: Within MRL limits

• Non-GMO

Four Colour Varieties

White Sesame Seeds
Bright white to cream-coloured seeds. Available as natural white (seed coat intact, lighter colour Pakistani varieties) and hulled white (seed coat mechanically removed, pure white kernel). Hulled white commands the highest price. Used in bakery toppings, tahini, halva, confectionery, sushi garnish, and premium food applications where clean white appearance is essential.

Brown Sesame Seeds
The most common and abundantly produced Pakistani variety. Light to medium brown colour with a robust, nutty flavour. The standard export grade for oil extraction, tahini, and general food use. Brown sesame is the most cost-effective variety and is available in the largest volumes year-round.

Black Sesame Seeds
Deep black colour with a slightly stronger, earthier flavour than brown or white. Positioned as a specialty and health food ingredient. Black sesame is rich in antioxidants, iron, and calcium. Used in Asian cuisine (Japanese, Chinese, Korean), health food products, bakery toppings, desserts, and traditional medicine.

Mixed Sesame Seeds
Natural as-harvested blend of brown, white, tan, and occasional black seeds. The most economical grade, primarily used for oil extraction and animal feed. Also used in food applications where colour uniformity is not a requirement.

Industrial Uses

• Sesame oil extraction: Sesame seeds are cold-pressed or expeller-pressed to produce sesame oil, one of the world’s most valued cooking oils. Used in Middle Eastern, Asian, and health food cuisine. Toasted sesame oil is a key flavouring in East Asian cooking. Pakistan’s sesame oil content (48-55%) supports efficient extraction yields

• Tahini production: Hulled white and brown sesame seeds are stone-ground into tahini paste, a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine (hummus, halva, sauces, dressings). Pakistan is a major supplier of sesame to tahini manufacturers in the Middle East and Europe

• Bakery and confectionery: Sesame seeds are used as toppings on bread, buns, bagels, crackers, and cookies. They are also a key ingredient in sesame snack bars, brittle, chikki, and confectionery products

• Halva manufacturing: Tahini made from sesame is the base for halva, a traditional confection popular across the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia

• Health food and nutrition: Sesame seeds are rich in healthy fats, protein, fibre, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and antioxidants (sesamin, sesamolin). Used in health bars, granola, trail mix, superfood blends, and dietary supplements

• Asian cuisine ingredient: Whole and toasted sesame seeds are used in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Indian cooking for garnishing, flavouring, and coating

• Animal feed: Mixed and lower-grade sesame, along with sesame oil cake (extraction residue), are used as protein-rich ingredients in animal and poultry feed formulations

• Cosmetics and personal care: Sesame oil is used in skincare, massage oils, hair care, and soap formulations for its moisturizing and antioxidant properties

Quality Assurance

Each lot includes a Certificate of Quality reporting oil content, moisture, purity, FFA, aflatoxin, salmonella, pesticide residues, and non-GMO status. Food-grade sesame is processed at HACCP/ISO 22000 certified facilities with colour sorters, gravity separators, and metal detectors. Phytosanitary certification, fumigation certificate, and SGS/Intertek inspection can be arranged. Pre-shipment samples are provided for buyer approval.