Black Sesame Seeds (Kala Til)
Black sesame seeds, known in India as kala til, are whole sesame seeds with a natural black hull. Elysium Agri exports natural black sesame from Gujarat's Saurashtra region in machine-cleaned and sortex grades up to 99.95% purity, checked for natural colour on every lot and tested for Salmonella, ethylene oxide and pesticide residues.
Black sesame has a stronger, nuttier and slightly bitter taste than white, and its black colour comes naturally from pigments in the hull. It is prized in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cooking, black sesame paste and roasted oil, and in Indian winter sweets such as til ladoo.
Black Sesame Seeds Specification
Purity
99/1, 99.95% · 99.98% on request
White / Brown Seeds
1% max (99/1) · 0.05% max (99.95)
Natural Colour
Water-bleed dye test on every lot
Moisture
6% max
Oil Content
45–48%
FFA
1.5–2% max
Salmonella
Absent in 25 g, tested per lot
ETO and Pesticides
Below EU / Japan / Korea MRLs
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 19 MT · 40 ft ≈ 25–27 MT
Black Sesame Seeds: Full Specification
The standard export specification for our natural black sesame seeds. Send your own specification with your enquiry and we will match it.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Natural black sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum L.), whole, unhulled | Kala til |
| Origin | Gujarat (Saurashtra: Amreli, Junagadh, Jamnagar belt), India | — |
| Varieties | Black-seeded varieties such as GT-10 | — |
| Crop / season | Kharif crop Sep–Nov; summer crop Mar–Jun | — |
| Colour | Jet black ("zed black") or regular black | Colour grade on contract |
| Natural colour | No added dye; water-bleed and cut-seed test negative | Tested per lot (see Black vs White Sesame Seeds) |
| GMO status | Non-GMO | — |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity (black seeds) | 99/1, 99.95% (99.98% on request) | ISO 658 |
| White / brown seed admixture | 1% (99/1) to 0.05% (99.95) max | Visual count |
| Foreign matter | 0.05–0.5% max per grade | ISO 658 |
| Damaged / discoloured seeds | 1–2% max | Visual |
| Moisture | 6% max | ISO 665 |
| Seed size | About 2–3 mm | Indicative |
| Live insects | Nil | Container fumigated if required |
| Chemical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Oil content | 45–48% (typical) | ISO 659 |
| Free fatty acid (as oleic) | 1.5% max (sortex); 2% max (machine-cleaned) | ISO 660 |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579-1; tested per lot for EU (Annex II, Salmonella checks) |
| Ethylene oxide (sum of ETO + 2-chloroethanol) | Below EU MRL of 0.05 mg/kg (not detected) | GC-MS/MS at an NABL-accredited lab |
| Pesticide residues | Within EU / Japan / Korea (PLS 0.01 mg/kg default) MRLs | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS multi-residue screen |
| Aflatoxin | B1 ≤ 2 µg/kg; total ≤ 4 µg/kg (EU) or as per your market | HPLC |
| E. coli | < 10 cfu/g | ISO 16649-2 |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP · 25 kg paper · 22.68 kg (50 lb) paper · jumbo bags | Buyer's marks on request |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 19 MT · 40 ft: about 25–27 MT | See Black Sesame Packing and Container Loading |
| HS code | 1207 40 90 (sesamum seeds, other) | 1207 40 10 is seed quality for sowing, not food export |
| Documents | Certificate of Analysis (Salmonella, pesticides incl. ETO, aflatoxin) · Phytosanitary Certificate · Official certificate for EU (Annex II) · Certificate of Origin · Fumigation Certificate (where required) | — |
Black vs White Sesame Seeds
Black and white sesame are the same species. The difference is in the hull, which gives black sesame its colour, stronger taste and higher mineral content.
- Natural colour check
- 1. Water rinse: natural black sesame does not bleed colour into cold water. 2. Cut seed: the inside of a natural black seed is white. 3. Rub test: no colour transfers to a damp palm or paper. Every lot is checked before packing.
| Black sesame | White sesame (natural) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hull | Black, left on | Off-white; left on (natural) or removed (hulled) |
| Colour source | Natural melanin pigment in the hull | — |
| Taste | Stronger, nuttier, slightly bitter | Milder, sweeter |
| Antioxidants | Much higher phenolic content in the hull | Lower |
| Price | Usually a premium over white of the same grade | Lower |
| Main markets | Japan, Korea, China, USA, Malaysia | Korea, USA, Russia, Vietnam, EU |
Choose Your Black Sesame Grade
Machine Cleaned 99/1
For oil milling and Indian confectionery.
Sortex 99.95%
Colour-sorted to remove white and brown seeds, for Japan, Korea and EU food buyers.
Need white seeds? Natural Sesame Seeds →Hulled Sesame Seeds →
Black Sesame Packing and Container Loading
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP bag (with or without liner) | 25 / 50 kg | 760 / 380 | 19 MT | 25–27 MT |
| Multi-wall paper bag | 25 kg | 760 | 19 MT | 25–27 MT |
| Paper bag | 22.68 kg (50 lb) | ≈ 840 | ≈ 19 MT | 25–26 MT |
| Jumbo bag | 750 / 1,000 kg | ≈ 19–25 | ≈ 19 MT | 25–26 MT |
Where Black Sesame Seeds Are Used
Japanese, Korean and Chinese Cooking
Toppings, gomashio, dressings and rice dishes.
Black Sesame Paste and Desserts
Paste, soups, ice cream and mochi.
Roasted Black Sesame Oil
A strongly flavoured cooking oil.
Bakery and Toppings
Breads, crackers and visible toppings.
Indian Sweets
Til ladoo, gajak and chikki, especially around Makar Sankranti.
Health Foods
Traditional and Ayurvedic preparations and wellness blends.
Black Sesame Seeds Price: What Sets It
Black sesame is priced per metric tonne, FOB an Indian port, usually at a premium over white sesame of the same grade because the crop is smaller.
- Purity and colour grade: sortex 99.95% and jet black cost more.
- Crop size: India's black sesame crop is much smaller than white, so supply swings more.
- East Asian demand: China, Japan and Korea buying drives the premium.
- Compliance: lots tested to Japan, Korea and EU residue limits carry a premium.
- Season: domestic demand peaks before Makar Sankranti in January.
Prices move with the crop and the market, so we quote on the day. Tell us your grade, quantity and port for a current FOB, CFR or CIF price.
Tested, Certified and Traceable
EU shipments also carry the official certificate required for Indian sesame under Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793.
- Sourcing from Gujarat mandis
- Lot sampling by an NABL-accredited lab
- Salmonella, ETO / pesticide and aflatoxin tests
Documents with every shipment
Get a Black Sesame Quote
Share your grade, colour and quantity, and we will send an FOB or CIF price with the spec sheet.
Thank you. Our sesame desk will send your price and spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are black sesame seeds?
Black sesame seeds, called kala til in India, are whole sesame seeds with a natural black hull. They have a stronger, nuttier taste than white sesame and are used in East Asian cooking, black sesame paste, roasted oil, bakery and Indian winter sweets.
Is kala til the same as black sesame seeds?
Yes. Kala til is the Hindi name for black sesame seeds. It is not the same as kalonji, which is nigella seed from a different plant.
What is the difference between black and white sesame seeds?
Both come from the same plant. Black sesame keeps a black hull, which gives it a stronger, slightly bitter taste, more antioxidants and more minerals. White sesame is milder and is sold natural or hulled. Black sesame usually costs more.
How do you know black sesame seeds are not dyed?
Natural black sesame does not bleed colour in cold water, is white inside when cut, and doesn't leave colour on a damp palm. Elysium Agri checks every lot with these tests and supplies only naturally black seed.
What is the specification of black sesame seeds for export?
Standard export black sesame has purity 99/1 to 99.95%, 1% to 0.05% max white or brown seeds, 6% max moisture, 45–48% oil, 1.5–2% max FFA, Salmonella absent in 25 g, and pesticide residues including ETO below EU, Japan and Korea limits.
What is the HS code for black sesame seeds?
Black sesame seeds for food use are exported under HS 1207 40 90 (sesamum seeds, other), the same code as white sesame.
Which countries import black sesame from India?
Japan, South Korea, China, the USA and Malaysia are among the main buyers of Indian black sesame, along with the Middle East and Europe.
