Natural versus hulled versus black sesame, what the 99% and 99.95% purity calls mean, and the oil, FFA and aflatoxin specs to lock.
Indian sesame (til) comes largely from Saurashtra in Gujarat, with good arrivals from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is a seed where the application drives the spec — tahini, a bakery bun and an oil mill each want something different from the same crop.
Natural, hulled, black and golden
Natural whitish seed is sold on sortex purity — commonly 99% or the tighter 99.95%. Machine-hulled seed has the skin removed, comes out bright white, and is what bakery, sushi and tahini buyers usually want. Black sesame and golden have their own niche uses. Hulling adds cost and a processing step, so do not order hulled if natural will do the job.
- Natural whitish: 99% / 99.95% sortex purity
- Hulled: bright white, for bakery, sushi, tahini
- Black and golden: specialty uses
- Forms: whole raw, hulled, roasted
Oil content and FFA for the oil trade
Oil content runs roughly 48–50%, which is why so much til goes to milling. For oil buyers, free fatty acid (FFA) is the number to watch — it climbs with poor storage and heat, and a high FFA seed makes for harder refining. Buyers often ask us to hold FFA to a ceiling; we put that on the contract rather than leave it to chance.
Specs to fix on the contract
These are indicative of typical Indian til; exact values are agreed on contract and confirmed on the CoA per lot, shipped from Mundra or Nhava Sheva.
- Sortex purity % and admixture
- Moisture %
- Oil content % and FFA (for oil use)
- Aflatoxin to destination limit
- Hulled vs natural, and roast level if roasted
Tip: For food-grade hulled seed, fix the aflatoxin limit and lab to your destination standard up front — it is the spec most likely to hold a container, and it is far cheaper to test pre-shipment than to argue over a rejected lot.
Frequently asked questions
What sesame types and purities do you supply?
From Saurashtra in Gujarat, plus MP and Rajasthan, we offer natural seed at 99% and 99.95% sortex, hulled white, and black sesame. Purity and admixture are confirmed on the CoA per lot.
What oil content and FFA can I expect for crushing?
Oil content typically runs 48 to 50%, and for oil use we can report FFA on the CoA. Set the minimum oil and maximum FFA you need on the contract.
Is it tested for aflatoxin?
Yes, every lot is tested at an accredited partner lab and shipped with a CoA covering aflatoxin against your destination limit and the agreed spec.
Can you ship an LCL trial, and is organic available?
Trial quantities on LCL are available for new buyers, and organic is offered on request under NPOP, USDA or EU with a Transaction Certificate.
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