Last Updated on June 11, 2021 by Sindhu
Let’s check out the differences between black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds. They do have a significant difference in taste profile, visual appearance, and culinary uses.
Black sesame seeds are also called benni seeds, black benniseed, or vegetable sesame. They belong to the same species as regular Sesame seeds.
Regular brown or white sesame seeds come from the plant Sesamum indicum. Whereas Black sesame seeds come from the plant Sesamum radiatum.
They are native to Africa and India. And then they were naturalized in various Asian countries and some other parts of the world. Now they are equally used in Eastern cuisines as well as Western cuisines.
Sesame seeds are one of the oldest seeds used around the world for their oil. They contain almost 60-70% of oil content.
Where do sesame seeds come from
Sesame seeds as their name depicts are a seed obtained from sesame fruit. It looks like a small pod and seeds are extracted after the pods are dry.
Types of sesame seeds
There are many types of sesame seeds depending on their color.
Brown, Black, and Tan colored sesame seeds are the unhulled varieties. White sesame seeds which you typically see on the hamburger buns are the hulled variety.
Black sesame seeds vs White sesame seeds
The black sesame seeds are unhulled, whereas white sesame seeds are hulled. When you remove the outer layer from the sesame seeds, the inner white seed is obtained.
Visual difference
The most easily noticeable difference between them is the color. Black sesame seeds are black in color. Whereas white sesame seeds with their hulls removed (either brown or tan) are creamish white in color.
Nutritional difference
Sesame seed hull is the major factor when comparing both black and white sesame seed’s taste and nutrition.
Black sesame seeds have an upper hand when it comes to fiber, calcium, and other nutrients compared to white sesame seeds.
Taste difference
Black sesame seeds are a bit bitter and more earthy when compared to their white counterpart. Whereas white sesame seeds are mild with a sweet undertone, But they both have that nutty aroma.
Texture difference
When sesame seeds are made into paste or powder, the black sesame seeds are a bit coarse because of their outer hull. Whereas white sesame seeds result in a more creamy paste. This is the reason they are more preferred in recipes such as tahini and hummus.
Culinary differences
Black sesame seeds are more predominantly used in Asian and African cuisines. Mostly used as a topping in dishes like ramen bowl, sushi, and salad.
They are also found in seasonings such as Gomashio.
Indians make them into desserts such as brittle or laddu.
White sesame seeds are most often used in Western and Middle Eastern cuisines. They are often found in baked goods such as hamburgers, bagels, bread, crackers, and other pastries. Famous middle eastern dishes such as hummus and tahini use sesame seeds in their ground form.
Few other famous recipes with Black sesame seeds include Black sesame ice cream, Black sesame soup, and Black sesame paste.
Can black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds be substituted for one another
Black sesame seeds can be used as a substitute for white sesame seeds if they are used in small quantities such as topping. But the dish might look quite different visually.
For example, a hamburger bun topped with white sesame seeds doesn’t look similar to that topped with black sesame seeds. The same goes for dishes such as ramen or sushi.
Apart from that, black sesame seeds have a slightly bitter taste because of their hulls and this becomes more pronounced when they are used in large quantities in dishes like tahini or hummus. Creamy hummus made with white sesame seeds cannot be compared to that made with black sesame seeds. They both differ significantly in taste and appearance.
The same goes for desserts. The white sesame seeds are mostly preferred for desserts because of their sweet undertone when compared to the bitter undertone of black sesame seeds which suits best for savory dishes.
Do check out the amazing health benefits sesame seeds can offer, especially for the Vegan and Vegetarian population.
