Sesame is a small, sweet seed that comes from an herbaceous plant in the genus Sesamum. It has been cultivated for thousands of years and is native to Africa but now grows all over Asia and Middle East as well. The seeds are used whole or ground into a paste called tahini, which is commonly used in cooking and baking. In addition to its culinary uses, sesame oil is also popularly used for massages and other health treatments due to its anti-inflammatory properties.