Sesame oil
For Chinese dietary therapy, Sesame oil (香油) is a food of Cool nature and Sweet flavor. An aromatic toasted-sesame oil, described as cool and moistening; used as a finishing touch rather than a frying fat.
Traditional energetics
- Nature
- Cool
- Flavor
- Sweet
- Affinity
- Liver · Large Intestine
- Direction of Qi
- Moistens and descends
- Season
- All year
- Group
- Oils
How tradition reads it
An aromatic toasted-sesame oil, described as cool and moistening; used as a finishing touch rather than a frying fat.
A few finishing drops over soups, blanched vegetables, and salads with garlic and vinegar; culinary tradition avoids hard frying, which destroys its aroma.
In the kitchen
A few drops at the end in soups, dressings, salads, and cold dishes.
Found in most supermarkets; toasted sesame seeds over a mild oil mimic its aromatic role.
Current nutrition note
Mostly unsaturated fats; the toasted oil has a low smoke point and is a sesame allergen.
Precautions
Sesame allergen; toasted sesame oil has a low smoke point, so it is added at the end and not used for high-heat frying.
Recipes with this food
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
