benne seeds for planting Benne (Sesame) – UJAMAA SEEDS
SKU: 85607735918
benne seeds for planting

benne seeds for planting Benne (Sesame) – UJAMAA SEEDS

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Description

benne seeds for planting Benne (Sesame) – UJAMAA SEEDSSesamum indicum Seeds per packet ~ 125 Germination: 94% Oct 2025, Packed for 2026 Origins and History Benne, also known as sesame (Sesamum indicum), is one of the worlds oldest oilseed crops, with domestication traced back over 3,000 years to Africa and India. Believed to have originated in India, and domesticated in Africa since at least the time of the Pharaohs. Even today, the east African nation of Sudan produces the largest crop of sesame seeds.

Sesamum indicum

Seeds per packet ~ 125

Germination: 94%  Oct 2025, Packed for 2026

Origins and History

Benne, also known as sesame (Sesamum indicum), is one of the world’s oldest oilseed crops, with domestication traced back over 3,000 years to Africa and India.  Believed to have originated in India, and domesticated in Africa since at least the time of the Pharaohs. Even today, the east African nation of Sudan produces the largest crop of sesame seeds. It traveled across trade routes into the Middle East and Asia, where it became an integral part of food and culture.

In the Americas, benne was brought through the transatlantic slave trade, particularly to the Carolinas, where African-descended people cultivated it and preserved traditional uses. Today, heirloom benne is celebrated as a culturally meaningful seed, especially in African American foodways and Southern heritage cuisine. The term "benne," comes from the Gullah-Geechee people (descendants of formerly enslaved people who developed a unique culture living in relative isolation on the Sea Islands of Georgia and South Carolina.

Appearance and Characteristics

The benne plant is an upright annual reaching 2–4 feet tall, with lance-shaped green leaves and delicate tubular flowers that can be white to pale pink. After pollination, the plant produces slender, oblong pods filled with small, flat seeds that can range in color from ivory to tan, brown, or black. Seeds are highly aromatic, with heirloom benne often noted for its richer, more complex flavor compared to modern sesame.

Culinary Uses

Benne seeds are prized for their nutty taste and versatility. They can be eaten raw, toasted, or pressed for oil. In African American traditions, heirloom benne is used in breads, stews, rice dishes, and notably in “benne wafers,” a signature sweet of the Lowcountry. The seeds also enrich sauces, garnish vegetables, and add protein and depth to both savory and sweet dishes. Unlike some modern sesame, heirloom benne retains its bold aroma and flavor after cooking. Sesame benne seeds are a common ingredient in Southern cuisine, especially in dishes from the Lowcountry region. They are often toasted to enhance their flavor and used in a variety of recipes, such as: cookies, rice, grits, salads, and seasoning.

Growing Tips

Benne thrives in warm climates and performs well in USDA Zones 7–11, though it can be grown as a summer annual in cooler regions. Sow seeds directly into well-drained soil after danger of frost, at a depth of about ¼ inch, spacing plants 6–12 inches apart. The crop prefers full sun and tolerates drought once established, though consistent moisture during early growth ensures strong stands. It grows best in sandy or loamy soils with good drainage, making it suitable for many Southern gardens.

Harvesting Guidance

Benne is typically ready to harvest 90–120 days after sowing. As the pods mature, they dry and split open, releasing seeds—a process called “shattering.” To prevent loss, harvest just before pods fully split, cutting stems and allowing them to dry upside down in bundles over a cloth to catch the falling seeds. Once dry, seeds can be shaken or threshed free, cleaned, and stored in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. Properly stored, heirloom benne seeds retain their flavor and viability for several years.

 

Botanical Origins of Sesamun indicum

Sesamum indicum, commonly known as sesame, is one of the world’s oldest oilseed crops, belonging to the family Pedaliaceae. Its wild relatives are distributed primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Indian subcontinent. The most probable center of origin is thought to be Africa, where several wild Sesamum species still grow, particularly in Ethiopia. However, genetic and archaeological evidence also points to an early secondary center of domestication in the Indian subcontinent, where the species has been cultivated for millennia. The crop’s drought tolerance and adaptability to marginal soils contributed to its early success as a dependable source of edible oil.

History of Domestication

Domestication of Sesamum indicum likely occurred over 3,000 years ago. Archaeological remains from the Indus Valley Civilization (around 2500–2000 BCE) suggest sesame was already under cultivation in ancient India, where it may have been domesticated from the wild species S. mulayanum. In ancient Mesopotamia, sesame oil was valued both for cooking and for ritual uses, indicating its early trade and cultural significance. The plant’s small seeds, high oil content (up to 60%), and relatively easy extraction process made it a vital early oilseed crop. Selective cultivation favored non-shattering seed pods, increased seed size, and improved oil quality.

Spread and Diversification

From its centers of domestication, sesame spread widely through early trade routes. It reached China by at least 2000 BCE, where it was used in traditional medicine and culinary preparations. Ancient Egyptian records also reference sesame as a food and medicinal oil, and the Greeks and Romans later adopted it into their diets. Over centuries, Sesamum indicum diversified into numerous landraces and varieties adapted to local climates—ranging from black and brown to white-seeded forms—each associated with distinct cultural and culinary uses. Today, sesame is cultivated in more than 70 countries, with major production centers in India, China, Sudan, Myanmar, and Nigeria. Its genetic diversity reflects centuries of human selection for flavor, seed color, oil content, and adaptability, making it both an ancient and continually evolving crop of global significance.

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Kim R-A
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Price / Quality - Office Desk - Perfect
Size: H Desk Unfinished 3/4-in and 1/2-in
Purchased two sets to create a custom L shaped desk for the office. Placed a pine stained top. Perfect to handle a monitor, multiple laptops, normal office equipment. Extra benefit is the cross piece at the bottom as a foot rest. Very sturdy while sitting on carpet. Compared to normal pipe material purchased in large box store -- could not have asked for a better product for the price. Looking at other products for additional projects for around the house for the product and vendor. - Highly Recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021
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Verified Purchase
Joseph E. Brackman
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Fantastic style, good stability, customizable finish, and great customer service
Size: M Desk Unfinished 3/4-in and 1/2-in
Put this together in about April 2020 right about the crazy lockdown/quarantine/work-from-home timeframe. I knew that I wanted a simple hardwood desk with no drawers or stuff below the top. I have an ergonomic keyboard tray that I have attached to all my work desks for many years now, and it was too long for my old home desk, which was also made of MDF and was falling apart. Boo. Enter this kit plus a butcher block top from the big box store. This kit went together easily. I had lost the instructions but a quick email to the JS Supplies company, and they hooked me up. By the time they sent it, I had actually figured out the part that was puzzling, which was what the all-thread pieces were for (the couplers between the elbows and the flanges on the top side). I degreased all the parts with a simple Simple Green-type solution diluted in a 5 gallon bucket. I then sprayed the pieces with a satin nitrocellulose laqcuer (Minwax brand that I got from the home improvement big box). Worked great. I thought about doing a sealed rust finish using a science project volcano--vinegar and baking soda for a quick layer of rust on the outside--but I decided against it, as I wasn't sure of how stable the final product would be, even after a clear spray finish. The satin nitro finish looks great without even looking like a finish. I also coated the pieces with paste wax after the finish dried, just for good measure. The one thing that is a bit disappointing is the stability... WITH MY TOP, mind you.I should be clear that the top that I'm using is a 1-3/4" thick monster piece of birch butcher block that is 60" x 30". I'm guessing that it's 40-50 pounds? Maybe more. This is probably WAY more weight than this leg set is made for. I also have the aforementioned keyboard tray that sticks out (torque equals force times lever arm) and causes even more torque. I get some shaking with the top with this setup. I have the desk on carpet; I was concerned that maybe the carpet and pad were not giving enough stability with the feet, so I made some plywood platforms for the feet. I also carefully leveled the feet to make sure it wasn't just uneven legs that was causing the instability. Still shakes no matter what I tried. I think it's just that I have such a heavy top--more than this thing is spec'd for. That's totally fine, and I don't want to knock off a bunch of stars for that. I leave these comments more as a "don't do what I did" thing. Just be advised that you need to limit the weight of the top to something reasonable. The design of one upright on each side of the desk with a pipe coupler in between is probably the weak spot with my heavy desktop; I'm thinking of either adding tension on either side (with some threaded rod and turnbuckles) or some extra supports with something like the Steel-Tek pieces from Lowe's. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the product and the company!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2020
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Verified Purchase
Russel
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
So nice I bought twice!
Size: H Desk Unfinished 3/4-in and 1/2-in, Size: H Desk Unfinished 3/4-in and 1/2-in
For starters, this is a great buy if it is exactly what you want. For me that was the case and it would have cost me a good $40 or more to replicate it at a big box store. With that said, if you are not planning on using all of the pieces and want a different configuration, this may not be the kit for you. All of the parts inside are just like if you bought it at a local home improvement store. All the pipes need to be cleaned and protected. I personally found that dish soap (dry off immediately after you clean a piece) was the easiest to clean everything and I finished it with some wax. The kit is sturdy and easily supports the weight of my butcher block tops. I inverted the kit as it is designed as I intend on adding a shelf and am planning on using the support brace to aid in holding that shelf up for cable management. After cleaning and protecting, putting the kit together only took 5-10 minutes and that was with kid disruptions. I purchased 2 so that my wife and I could have matching desks in the office and I couldn't be happier.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2019
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Verified Purchase
Colauhu
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable and sturdy. I bought two
Size: H Desk Unfinished 3/4-in and 1/2-in
Love the kit. I ordered two to make an L-shaped desk for my home office. Perfect height, looks cool, and sturdy. Slightly tricky to get two of them to the exact same height but you can adjust them buy loosing/tightning parts. Way cheaper than going to the hardware store and buying the same parts. I wiped each piece down as they are a bit dirty/greasy, but no big deal.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2021
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Verified Purchase
Gigi
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Great legs - sturdy when fully assembled with tabletop.
Size: H Desk Unfinished 3/4-in and 1/2-in
These legs are great. I put it together with a butcher block tabletop and it turned out beautifully. I recommend using a level on the legs once you get them into position and again when you place a top on it. The screws included were so easy to screw into the block but that will vary depending on the top you select. Watch the videos another reviewer posted on cleaning the legs with a mild soapy water and dry them thoroughly. It really helped me. Also after it was all assembled I used a clear acrylic - in a spray can to clear coat and seal the legs. I am really happy with it.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020

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