How to identify dyed black sesame

In order to pursue profits, many businessmen will dye some older white sesame seeds into black sesame seeds, but consumers often cannot distinguish whether the black sesame seeds are dyed when purchasing. However, if you consume too much dyed black sesame seeds, it will have a great impact on human health, because dyed black sesame seeds are mainly dyed with some dyes, and the dyes contain strong carcinogens. So what is the method to distinguish whether black sesame is dyed?

Why do we need to identify authenticity?

Some bad people dye old or white sesame seeds black and sell them as new black sesame seeds to make huge profits. Dyed black sesame seeds are extremely harmful to health and may cause cancer, so be sure to identify the authenticity when purchasing!

What does real black sesame look like?

*Black surface, smooth or ridged edges

* There is a dot-shaped brown hilum at the tip, the skin is as thin as paper, and the filmy endosperm can be seen in the longitudinal section

* Rich in oil, light taste, has a light fragrance when chewed, not bitter, can be eaten raw

*Black sesame actually has three layers, the outer black skin, the middle white skin, and the inner endosperm

Identification Tips

1. Look at the color. If it is all black, it is fake! Real black sesame contains three colors: black/red, and some white. Black accounts for the vast majority, red is caused by incomplete pigment development during the growth of sesame, and white is caused by the shedding of the skin.

2. Is there a brown (or white or yellow) germ point at the tip? Real black sesame has a needle-tip-sized white (or yellow) spot at the germ point, which is the key to identification. If the sesame seeds are dyed, there will definitely be no embryo point.

3. Rub with your hands to see if the color fades. If it fades, it must have been dyed. You can also use a wet handkerchief or paper towel to identify the authenticity. If the color does not fade after rubbing it on the wet paper towel, it is real sesame, otherwise it may be a fake.

4. Check whether the black sesame seeds have white endosperm when cut. There must be half-broken sesame seeds among sesame seeds. Just find a broken black sesame seed and look at the color of the broken part. If the broken part is also black, it is dyed; if the broken part is white, it means that the sesame seeds are real.

5. Put it in water and see the color of the water. If it turns black, it must be dyed. Real black sesame water is light brown in color because it contains red sesame seeds. The sesame skin is easy to fall off and the pigment is easily soluble in water. This is all normal.

6. Soak the sesame seeds in water to see if they sprout. This may take 1-2 days, and the dyed ones will not germinate no matter how many days they are left.

Note: Some points that are easy to misjudge

1. When washing sesame seeds, rub them vigorously in your hands, and the flesh inside will be exposed. Some friends said it was white sesame seeds (expressing shock), but it is actually sesame milk.

2. When I rubbed hard, there was a little black on my hands, which was said to be dyed. Oh, My God! Even if it’s real black sesame, it can’t stand being rubbed like this!

3. Put it in water and the color of the water turns black: If you put the black sesame seeds that have just been harvested from the field in water for most of the day and stir them vigorously, they will also turn black! When doing this, take a bowl of water, put a handful of sesame seeds in it, and just look at the color.