 | Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum). Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.Thomas Jefferson planted Sesame, or "Benni", for many years at Monticello in order to press a salad oil from the seeds. He wrote in 1811, "I did not believe there existed so perfect a substitute for olive oil". Sesame has been cultivated for centuries as a food in India and tropical Africa, but in European countries it has been used primarily for the oil. Jefferson also planted Sesame as a border plant because of its ornamental qualities.... - Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum). |
