Sesame and sesame oil

 Sesame oil, along with perilla oil, is a type of vegetable oil that stimulates our appetite.

Sesame oil is extracted from sesame seeds, and perilla oil is extracted from perilla seeds. In addition, safflower oil, which is said to help bones heal well after fractures, is extracted from safflower, red camellia oil, which adds shine to hair, and castor oil, which is effective against toxicity and constipation, are each vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and it is said that if you consistently consume one finger a day, your health will improve.

There are two methods for manufacturing vegetable oils derived from various seeds: pressing and dissolving, but this sesame oil is usually manufactured by pressing in small quantities.

Sesame oil enhances the flavor of food, so it is not used alone, but rather added to bibimbap when mixing.

Sesame seeds are imported from China through peddlers, or are auctioned by the AT (Agricultural and Fisheries Trade Corporation) for quarterly price adjustments. They are said to come mainly from Pakistan, Ethiopia, and India, and if red sesame seeds are mixed in by local inspectors, they are considered defective.

In the first month of the year, white rice cakes are eaten with sesame oil, and in Andong, high-quality foods such as songpyeon are steamed and coated with sesame oil to prevent them from sticking together.

Sesame seeds are harvested in the fall around September and October, dried up with the seeds standing upright without touching the ground, and then pounded to remove the seeds, which is called sesame turning.

Oil shops can be found in most large traditional markets, and in the metropolitan area in particular, Moran Market in Seongnam is called Oil Alley, and a rich smell wafts from nearby.

Sesame oil bottles are usually made of small bottles, but in the past, capping with newspapers was considered unsanitary, so special containers were also distributed.

Sesame salt is sesame seeds with salt added, and it has a salty and savory taste that goes well with dishes such as stir-fried dishes. Just like a pepper grinder, sesame seeds can also be used every time to prevent rancidity.

Perilla seeds also have the function of reducing odor, so they are used with zephyr and cinnamon in hangover soups, naejangtang, and chueotang. Sesame leaves are edible, but they are not as popular as sesame leaves or soybean leaves.

Bak is the remaining material after oil is squeezed. Soybean meal is the remaining material after soybean oil is squeezed, perilla seeds are the remaining material, and sesame seeds are the remaining material after sesame seeds are squeezed. Homabak is the remaining material after sesame seeds are squeezed, and they are useful as livestock feed.

Sesame seeds are expressed in Chinese characters as homa, perilla seeds are called imja, and there are also cottonseed gourds and seed gourds.