Sesame is a tropical oilseed plant. Its pods contain small, flat, oval seeds of variable color. The pods are beaten to harvest the seeds and then left to dry.
 
These seeds do not contain essential oil, so they are not aromatic. The flavor of sesame is mild and sweet and acquires a nutty taste when the seeds are dried. Sesame oil has an antioxidant agent that protects the freshness of foods.