Sesame seeds have a mild, sweet, and nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch when eaten whole. They’re often baked or toasted to bring out a stronger almond-like flavor and aroma and make the seeds more evident in dishes. Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum, also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods.