What Black Sesame Means to Me

We recently received an email from a customer that simply said:

"We absolutely LOVE the black sesame bar."

Our response was equally enthusiastic:

"Thank you!! So do we!!"

This got me thinking about my own relationship with black sesame and why it holds such a special place in my heart - and in our products at Kessho.

A Childhood Memory

Black sesame is something I grew up with. My dad used to make toasts covered with black sesame spread and a layer of granulated sugar for me as breakfast. He would always say, "Black sesame will give you healthy hair and skin!" I can still picture his loving look as he watched me eat my black sesame toast. For me, black sesame isn't just a flavor - it's a memory of love.

The Rich History of Black Sesame in Asia

Black sesame has a long and fascinating history in Asian cultures:

1. Ancient origins: Sesame is one of the oldest known oilseed crops, cultivated for over 5,000 years. It's believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent or Africa.
2. Spread to Asia: Sesame cultivation spread to China as early as 2000 BCE and became an important crop in many Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia.
3. Traditional Chinese medicine: Black sesame has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. It's believed to nourish the liver and kidneys, improve vision, and promote longevity.
4. Culinary uses: In China, black sesame paste is a common ingredient in desserts and pastries. In Japan, it's used in various dishes, including gomashio (sesame salt) and as a topping for rice. Korean cuisine also incorporates black sesame in various dishes and traditional medicines.
5. Cultural significance: In many Asian cultures, black sesame is associated with longevity and good health. It's often included in festival foods and given as gifts during special occasions.

My Black Sesame Journey

Growing up, I enjoyed black sesame in many forms:

• As a paste on butter with cane sugar sprinkled on top for added crunchiness
• In sesame candy and sesame balls
• Eating a spoonful of roasted black sesame
• Sprinkled on top of rice

These experiences inspired me to explore new ways of using black sesame in our products at KESSHO. We've created:

• A black sesame chocolate bar [link to product]
• Black sesame cookies [link to product]
• An Asian-inspired version of cookies and cream gelato
• And a snack chocolate that's really innovative which we would launch soon!!! (Please leave a comment if you would like to get a sample!)

Each of these creations is a nod to my childhood memories and the rich cultural history of black sesame in Asia. We're thrilled that our customers are enjoying these unique flavors as much as we do.

At KESSHO, we're not just making confections - we're sharing a piece of our heritage and our hearts. Every black sesame treat we create is infused with the love and care I remember from those childhood breakfasts with my dad.

We hope that when you taste our black sesame creations, you'll feel that same sense of warmth and love that I associate with this special ingredient.

Special announcement: We will be demoing our whole black sesame product line at the Dallas Chocolate Festival on Sept 8th!