General Information
Sesame leaves and sesame seeds come from a flowering plant called Sesamum indicum, which is an annual plant that grows to about 1.5 to 3 feet in height.
Sesame leaves (kkaenip herb as known in Korean) are similar in flavor to fennel. They have that slightly exotic licorice flavor.
Another way to enjoy the health benefits of sesame is to include sesame leaves in your diet. Sesame leaves are a staple green vegetable in the traditional Korean diet, and are valued for their mineral density and strong aroma. They are as aromatic as herbs like basil and mint, but have a unique, nutty fragrance.
In Korea, where perilla is an important flavouring, the plant is known as tul-kkae [들깨]. This name literally means “wild sesame plant”, although perilla and sesame are not particularly closely related. Also kkaennip [깻잎] (“sesame leaf”) is a common designation for perilla in Korean.
