A type of sesame plant native to Africa and Asia, also known as beniseed, valued for its edible seeds and oil.
The word comes from Arabic and African languages where the plant originates. 'Hellim' entered English through trade routes connecting Africa and the Middle East with Europe.
Sesame seeds have been cultivated for over 5,500 years, and 'hellim' represents how a single plant earned dozens of names across continents—from Somalia to India to the Caribbean—because everyone wanted its nutritious seeds.
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