Black sesame seeds are not hulled, golden brown sesame seeds maintain their hulls too, and the white seeds are hulled which exposes their accurate seed colour. It contains about 60% more calcium than hulled sesame seeds. These are tangier and have a stronger smell than white or brown sesame seeds.

These small seeds come in shades of brown, red and black, but the most ordinary colour is a pale greyish-ivory. Sesame seeds contain a nutty, sweet fragrance with a milk-like, buttery flavour.