Enter any store and take a look at the cooking oil section.

You’ll probably see terms such as cold pressed, wood pressed, chekku, marachekku, unrefined, natural and traditional.

Confusing, isn’t it?

When trying out wood-pressed sesame oil for the first time, you could find it tricky to determine which brand is worth your money. Fortunately, there is no need for you to know everything about oils. You only need to be aware of what to look out for.

In this guide, we shall be discussing how to identify good wood-pressed sesame oil, the things to look out for from the label, the process of extraction and common errors to avoid when purchasing sesame oil.

What Is Wood-Pressed Sesame Oil?

But before we decide on which oil to go for, let us first understand the meaning of “wood pressed”.

The wood pressed sesame oil is produced using the traditional way of crushing sesame seeds using wooden presses, which are also known as chekku or marachekku.

It involves slowly crushing the seeds to extract their natural oil content. The extracted oil is later left to settle and is also filtered prior to packaging.

Traditional methods of producing sesame oil in the Tamil Nadu region includes seed cleaning, preparation, crushing process, settling and filtering. In some cases, the traditional method of sesame oil extraction also involves palm jaggery.

This method differs from the refined oil production process where there are additional steps, such as neutralization, bleaching and deodorization.

1. Check the Extraction Method

How did the oil get extracted?

While the oil’s front label might provide you with some insight into how the oil has been produced, you need to visit the product description page or the manufacturer’s website to check whether the brand discloses information about their oil extraction process.

Words like:

Wood pressed
Chekku pressed
Marachekku
Cold pressed
Traditionally extracted

can give you additional information about the extraction process.

However, it is important not to rely solely on the phrase “wood pressed”. It is always a good idea to get to know the details of oil production.

For example, where were the sesame seeds grown? How were they cleaned? How were they pressed? Was the oil filtered? How was it stored?

2. Look at the Ingredients List

This is perhaps one of the easiest things to do.

Simply flip the bottle over and check the list of ingredients.

Do not take for granted that every bottle of “traditional sesame oil” will have been produced in precisely the same manner.

When buying pressed sesame oil with palm jaggery, the labeling on the product will indicate clearly its ingredients and identity.

The FSSAI guidelines for consumers recommend that when selecting packed food products, one should check the ingredients, the FSSAI license details, and date marks.

This does not take more than a minute but can reveal a great deal.

3. Understand What Palm Jaggery Means

You may find sesame oil which has been extracted using palm jaggery known as karupatti as well.

Now, why would that be the case?

In some traditional process of extracting sesame oil, palm jaggery is included in the process at the stage where sesame seeds are being pressed.

The information from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University regarding sesame processing specifically points out the use of palm jaggery in the extraction of cold-pressed sesame oil.

Its purpose is not to make the oil sweet.

Rather, it is traditionally used and could add flavor to the oil.

If you like South Indian traditional flavors, this is one thing that you should try out.

Moreover, in one traditional explanation of marachekku process in Tamil Nadu, inclusion of palm jaggery is mentioned at the point of sesame pressing.

Therefore, next time you find phrases such as karupatti sesame oil, palm jaggery sesame oil or sesame oil with palm jaggery, be sure to go through the description of the product.

4. Don’t Choose an Oil Only Because It Looks Clear

This is a very frequent mistake.

One might believe:

“The more transparent the oil, the better the oil.”

However, this is not necessarily a good criterion of assessment for a traditionally produced oil.

Press oils may have naturally various shades depending on the quality of sesame seeds used, extraction method, filtration, and storage conditions.

It should not be the aim to find the lightest-colored oil.

The aim should be to choose a reliable brand that provides detailed information about their production.

FSSAI standards of pressed oils consider such criteria as purity, rancidity, etc.

Thus, do not rely only on the color.

5. Smell the Sesame Aroma

Try this out after you open your bottle.

Smell it.

High-quality sesame oil has a distinct sesame fragrance.

It can be warm, earthy, and nutty.

The aroma is what makes the sesame oil so special for traditional cooking.

This was among the most noticeable differences I noticed about traditional oils when I began to pay attention to them.

With strongly flavored oil, you can detect the source ingredient through smell.

This makes the simple act of adding oil to hot rice and podi a unique experience.

One thing to note however:

A strong smell by itself is not evidence of good quality oil.

Combine smell with other tests included here.

Do not use any oil which has a bad smell.

6. Check the Manufacturing and Best-Before Dates

Oil is a food product; hence, its freshness matters.

Always verify the date of manufacturing and date of expiry on the packet.

As per the Eat Right India guidelines of FSSAI, it is suggested that consumers should always check date markings while buying packaged food items.

It is particularly helpful while buying oil online.

One shouldn’t just put a bottle in the cart due to low prices.

Always verify the details first.

7. Look for Proper Food-Safety Information

A good and reliable package food product needs to give the necessary information on food safety and labeling.

These include:

FSSAI logo and license number
Ingredients
Net weight
Details of manufacturing/packing
Best before/expire date
Storage directions
Information on manufacturer/market

Several of these factors are listed by FSSAI in its consumer guidelines as factors that need to be considered while analyzing food labels.

This does not mean that the presence of license numbers means that the oil is the “best”.

8. Find Out What Sesame Seeds Are Used

The oil comes from sesame seeds.

It is natural to consider, therefore, that the quality of the seeds is of importance.

Try to choose products which give you information on the raw materials used and how they get them.

Quality sesame seeds are clean and fit for making food.

Traditional sesame production entails cleaning of the seeds before the pressing.

You will have more information on hand if you choose products which inform you of their ingredients and production process.

You do not have to be a sesame farmer.

9. Understand the Difference Between Wood Pressed and Refined Oil

It is yet another point that consumers find confusing.

Wood-pressed sesame oil undergoes the process of pressing.

Refined sesame oil has gone through further processing.

Processing by traditional method is geared towards extraction of oil without compromising on its unique taste and smell.

Processing by refinement is done to ensure that the oil has no distinctive taste or smell.

Both types of oil are not a guaranteed sign of healthy oil.

The significant difference between the two is the processing method and the desired properties of cooking oil.

In case you prefer oil with a distinctive taste and smell of sesame, wood-pressed sesame oil would be preferable.

10. Don’t Fall for Big Health Claims

This advice is surely the most important one of this whole article.

When searching for sesame oil on the Internet, you will see a lot of information.

Some web resources might say that sesame oil is able to heal some diseases and help avoid serious troubles, or can fix almost any problem.

Instead of purchasing a bottle on the basis of some miraculous properties, ask yourself more reasonable questions:

How was it made?
Which ingredients are included in the composition?
Is this brand honest?
Is the product well labeled?
Does it smell and taste fresh?

Those are much better questions.

11. Think About How You Will Use the Oil

Think about your kitchen before you purchase a bottle.

What do you want to cook with the sesame oil?

If you like idli and dosa with podi, sesame oil may go very well with this.

You can also use it to cook:

Kuzhambu
Puliyodharai
Pickles
Traditional vegetable preparations
Podi
Dishes based on rice
Some everyday cooking

The sesame oil is full of character.

It does not blend well with the dishes.

Rather, it brings in its own aroma and flavor.

That is why it is suitable for South Indian traditional dishes.

12. Choose the Right Size for Your Kitchen

Here is a simple trick which most people ignore.

If this is your first attempt at wood-pressed sesame oil, you should not rush out to purchase the largest bottle on offer.

Purchase an amount of oil which is comfortable for you to consume.

Try it to see if you like its smell.
Try it in podi.
Use it in an authentic recipe.
Check whether your family members like its taste.

If you like it, you can purchase more of it next time around.

What Makes a Good Wood-Pressed Sesame Oil?

Let’s try to make it all easy.

While selecting a bottle, consider these points:

Is the process of extraction elaborated?
See whether it says anything about wood pressing, chekku, or other methods of extraction.
Are the components elaborated upon?
Refer to the label and not just marketing claims.
Does the manufacturer elaborate on how the product was produced?
Is the package properly labeled?
See the information by FSSAI, expiry date, quantity, and storage conditions.
Does it give off a natural aroma of sesame?
It should smell nice and natural.
Is it compatible with the style of cooking you prefer?

If you like South Indian cuisine, then sesame oil is an excellent choice for your kitchen.

Why Choose Wood-Pressed Sesame Oil with Palm Jaggery?

In case you have any interest in traditional techniques of oil pressing, then perhaps you could take a further step and experiment with wood pressed sesame oil with palm jaggery.

In this mixture, sesame seeds and karupatti combine together in the process of traditional oil extraction.

The resulting oil possesses the same taste of sesame oil but also contains hints of earthiness characteristic of palm jaggery.

For those who are interested in the traditional preparation of oil in Tamil style, this would be particularly fascinating.

A Simple Buying Checklist

The next time you are standing in front of a bottle of sesame oil, remember these six things:

1. Extraction – Find out how the oil was pressed.

2. Ingredients – Read the label.

3. Freshness – Check the manufacturing and best-before dates.

4. Food safety – Look for the required labelling information.

5. Transparency – Choose a brand that explains how its oil is made.

6. Your cooking style – Pick an oil that fits the foods you actually enjoy.

You don’t need to be an expert.

You just need to become a better label reader.

Bring Traditional Sesame Oil to Your Kitchen

Selecting a quality oil should not really complicate your life.

Do not be swayed by the fancy package and claims.

Know the method used for extraction. Study the ingredients. Look at the date. Know the company. And lastly, select an oil that matches your cooking requirements.

If you are interested in a traditional combination, then you can try Kaadu Organics Wood Pressed Sesame Oil with Palm Jaggery.

This oil combines sesame seeds with palm jaggery using a traditional extraction process and can be consumed with everyday items like podi, rice, kuzhambu, dosa and other South Indian recipes.

More information on this oil can be found at the following link:

Discover Kaadu Organics Wood Pressed Sesame Oil with Palm Jaggery

At times, selecting the right oil does not require the use of the one with the highest claims.

Instead, it requires an understanding of the contents and the manufacturing process of the oil.