Bourbon Smoked Benne Seeds

Heirloom benne seeds, slow-smoked over repurposed bourbon barrel staves for gentle oak and vanilla notes. Often called the original Southern sesame, benne seeds carry a culinary heritage that traces through the Lowcountry and beyond. Bourbon Barrel Foods smokes them in small batches for a nutty, aromatic seed with a Kentucky accent.

At a glance

• Style: Bourbon-smoked heirloom benne (Southern sesame) seeds
• Sizes: 2.25 oz tin, 8.5 oz food service container
• Ingredients: Heirloom benne seeds
• Nutrition: Plant-based protein, calcium, iron, and zinc; no cholesterol
• Origin: Processed in the USA
• Maker: Bourbon Barrel Foods, Louisville, Kentucky

Best for

• Benne wafers and Southern baked goods
• Roasted vegetables and seared fish
• Noodle dishes and stir-fries
• Tahini, marinades, and dressings
• Topping breads, crackers, and grain bowls
• Gifts for bakers and fans of Southern foodways

How to use

Use anywhere you would reach for sesame. Sprinkle over roasted vegetables, seared fish, or noodles, fold into baked goods for a smoky crunch, or grind into tahini and marinades. Toasting deepens the aroma further.

Flavor profile

Rich and nutty up front with notes of honey and roasted sesame, savory umami through the middle, and gentle oak and vanilla from the bourbon-barrel smoke on the finish.

About Bourbon Barrel Foods

Bourbon Barrel Foods is a Louisville, Kentucky maker of barrel-aged and bourbon-smoked specialty pantry items, including the country's first microbrewed soy sauce.