Kurogoma Black Sesame

Sesamum indicum Seeds per pack approx. 200 Packed for 2025 Origins and History Kurogoma, meaning “black sesame” in Japanese, refers to a heritage type of Sesamum indicum, one of the oldest oilseed crops in human history. Sesame’s domestication traces back over 4,000 years to the Indus Valley and regions of sub-Saharan Africa, where early farmers selected for drought resistance and high oil content. The crop spread eastward through trade routes into China, Korea, and Japan, where black-seeded varieties like Kurogoma became prized for their rich flavor and medicinal qualities. In Japan, black sesame has long been used in both Buddhist temple cuisine (shōjin ryōri) and traditional confections, symbolizing vitality and longevity. Appearance and Characteristics Kurogoma plants are upright annual herbs reaching 2–4 feet tall, with slender, square stems and lance-shaped leaves. The bell-shaped flowers are pale pink to lavender, giving way to small, elongated seed capsules that split open when