World SeedBlack Sesame (Sesamum indicum)
Black sesame has a thick dark seed coat, a stronger flavour and higher lignan and mineral content than white sesame. It is bought mainly by China, Japan and Korea for whole-seed food use, oil and paste. The grower agronomy and the export specifications are set out here alongside the white-sesame profile.
Botanical identity and type
Botanical name: Sesamum indicum L., black-testa types, Pedaliaceae.
Origin / type: Black-coated sesame landraces from Sindh; open-pollinated.
Crop type: Annual oilseed; traded as whole edible seed for East Asian food, oil and confectionery.
Black sesame is the same species as white but carries anthocyanin and other pigments in the testa. Oil content is slightly lower, 45–50 %, while sesamin plus sesamolin can reach 1.5–2.0 % and calcium and iron are higher because the mineral-rich seed coat is retained. The flavour after roasting is stronger and nuttier, which is why it is used whole on rice, in tahini-style pastes, mochi, confectionery and as roasted black sesame oil in East Asia. Seed is 2.5–3.0 mm with a 1,000-seed weight of 2.5–3.0 g.
Agronomy matches white sesame: a 95–115 day summer crop on well-drained loam, hand-cut and stooked when the lower capsules turn brown, then threshed. Yield is slightly lower than white types, 0.5–1.0 t/ha. Because the crop is small in Pakistan relative to white sesame, lots are contracted before sowing. Export lots are machine-cleaned to 99 % purity and optically sorted to remove brown and white seed; buyers in Japan and Korea typically specify 99.5 % black.
See white sesame for the oil-pressing type. The phytosanitary table lists the GACC, MAFF and APQA requirements for the three main markets, and the moisture and storage guide explains why oilseeds are shipped at 6 % moisture.
Agronomy at a glance
Figures are typical ranges under good management; local trials should confirm rates for a specific site. Use the sowing rate tables to convert kg/ha to per-acre, per-feddan or per-jerib rates.
| Parameter | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Sowing rate | 3–5 kg/ha drilled (typical) |
| Sowing depth | 1.5–2.5 cm |
| Row spacing | 30–45 cm rows |
| Days to harvest | 95–115 days |
| Harvests per season | 1 |
| Yield, seed | 0.5–1.0 t/ha (typical) |
| Yield, stover | 2–3 t/ha dry |
| Oil / protein / lignans | 45–50 % oil; 18–21 % protein; 1.5–2.0 % sesamin + sesamolin |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8.0 |
| Water need | 400–600 mm; no waterlogging |
| Temperature | Optimum 25–35 °C |
| Salinity tolerance | Low: threshold ECe ~2 dS/m |
| Seeds per kg | 330,000–400,000 |
Export seed standards
Standards below are those written on the ISTA-format test report issued with each export lot. See how purity and germination standards work and how to read the report.
| Parameter | Export standard | Method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity (sound, clean seed) | 99.0 % min (Sortex 99.5 %) | Machine-cleaned; optical sorted where stated |
| Moisture | 6 % max | Oven or calibrated capacitance meter at dispatch |
| Admixture / foreign matter | 1.0 % max | Stones, stalks, dust, other seed by weight |
| Germination | Not tested — edible/spice grade | Sowing-grade lots are tested on request (ISTA method) |
| Oil content | 45 % min | Soxhlet on composite sample |
| Free fatty acid | 2 % max (as oleic) | Kept low by 6 % moisture |
| White / brown seed | 1 % max (Sortex 0.5 %) | Optical sorting |
Where it is grown
Black sesame is grown in Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts of Sindh, sown in June–July and harvested in October–November. Volumes are a fraction of white sesame and are contracted with growers each spring.
Importing markets: China, Japan, South Korea, Türkiye, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, Egypt. China, Japan and Korea take most of the crop for food use; Türkiye and the EU for confectionery and specialty oil; the United States for health-food and bakery.
Buying notes
Black Sesame Seed is exported by Kohenoor International from Karachi and Port Qasim under HS 1207.40. Standard pack is 25 kg / 50 kg; minimum order 1 x 20ft. Harvest October–November; new crop from November. Every shipment carries a phytosanitary certificate (Department of Plant Protection, Pakistan), a certificate of origin, an ISTA-format purity and germination report, packing list and invoice; fumigation certificate and COA on request.
Pricing, samples and shipment planning are handled on the specialist product site: herbnseed.com. For loading weights see the container capacity table; for destination paperwork see phytosanitary requirements by destination.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| HS code | 1207.40 |
| Pack | 25 kg / 50 kg |
| Minimum order | 1 x 20ft |
| Purity / germination on report | 99% min / n/a (edible) |
| Shipping terms | FOB or CIF Karachi / Port Qasim |
| Specialist site | herbnseed.com |
Frequently asked questions
Why is black sesame more expensive than white?
Smaller production, lower yield per hectare (0.5–1.0 t/ha) and the extra optical sorting needed to reach 99.5 % uniformity. Demand from Japan, Korea and China for whole-seed use also supports the price.
Is black sesame more nutritious than white?
It contains more lignans (sesamin and sesamolin), more calcium and iron and more antioxidant pigment because the seed coat is retained. Oil content is slightly lower. For oil yield, white sesame is more efficient.
Can black sesame be hulled?
It can, but hulling removes the black coat and most of the reason for buying black sesame. It is traded and used whole, usually roasted.
What purity of black colour can I specify?
Standard export grade is 99 % black with up to 1 % brown or white seed; Sortex grade reaches 99.5 %. Both are stated on the certificate of analysis.
What is the HS code for black sesame?
HS 1207.40, the same as white sesame. The packing list and COA specify colour and grade.
Need Black Sesame Seed seed?
The knowledge base is maintained by Kohenoor International's agronomy team. Quotes for Black Sesame Seed are handled by the export desk and the specialist site linked in the buying notes.
export@kohenoorint.com · +92 310 4929292 · Reply within 24 hours