Peachy's Pantry: TERRA MEDI INTRODUCES EXTRA VIRGIN SESAME OIL New Heart-Healthy Oil from Greece Adds Versatility to Gourmet Cooking

Terra Medi, a leading purveyor of gourmet oils and pantry foods crafted in Greece, broadens its offerings with the debut of new Terra Medi Extra Virgin Sesame Oil, a fragrant and flavorful oil with a nutritional profile that is beneficial to heart health.  This is the first Sesame Oil we've tried at Whom You Know and we tried it because of our love for the other Terra Medi products we've tried.

Extra virgin sesame seed oil -- prized for its’ golden hue and subtly sweet flavor -- traces its roots back to antiquity when it was used by ancient Greeks for a variety of cooking, preserving and medicinal purposes.  Today, professional chefs and home cooks alike are savoring the unique taste and versatility of this exquisite oil, which can be used to:

§  Dress salads and vegetables;

§  Create light, yet complex sauces for fish and seafood;

§  Add a delightful note to baked goods;

§  Replace other cooking oils or butter for a change of pace in sautéing and frying all types of foods.

Terra Medi’s new Extra Virgin Sesame Oil is made in Greece using traditional cold compression and extraction techniques to capture the oil’s distinct flavor and fragrant bouquet.  Entirely pure in its composition, Terra Medi’s Extra Virgin Sesame Oil has a lower acidity level compared to olive oil, and a high smoke-point for excellent results, whether used as a finishing ingredient, drizzled on top of vegetables, fish, seafood, and meat dishes, or as the cooking oil base in stir-fries and other fried and sautéed recipes.

In addition to its myriad cooking applications, Terra Medi’s Extra Virgin Sesame Oil offers high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which help fight against high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease.   Additionally, Terra Medi’s Extra Virgin Sesame Oil is rich in naturally occurring, anti-oxidants, including vitamin E and vitamin B complex, which combat free radicals and help fight against diseases.

An ideal hostess gift or stocking stuffer for gourmet food and health enthusiasts, Terra Medi’s new Extra Virgin Sesame Oil is offered in an appealingly slim, 8.5-ounce glass bottle that features the brand’s elegant label of three stylized olives in refreshing hues of lemon and tangerine.  Terra Medi’s new Extra Virgin Sesame Oil is available at select gourmet and specialty food stores for $7.99 suggested retail. 

Established in 2001, Terra Medi of Greek Farms International, LLC is a fast growing line of premium food products made in Greece, including extra virgin olive oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, vinegars, olives, bruschettas and olivades. Founder Apostolos Paralikas -- who holds a master’s degree in horticulture, and grew up working in his family’s olive groves in Greece – and his partners, are passionate in their mission to share the rich bounty and sophistication of authentic Greek foods with American chefs and home cooks and aficionados of gourmet food.

The Peachy's Pantry Panel put this to the test, and they say:


Extra Virgin Sesame oil, a new fabulous product from terri-medi that can't be beat! This is a very special "cold pressed" and uncooked sesame oil that has a wonderful mild flavor. I used this oil in my "family secret" salad dressing for a change from my EVOO that I normally use and my family all agreed it was the best tasting ever.   Studies have shown that sesame oil is a powerful antioxidant. It has been used in India as a healing oil and Holland for treatment of certain diseases just to name a few.  Since terri-medi does not cook their oil hence the health benefits are preserved naturally. I decided to make a healthy spinach saute with terri-medi sesame oil and garlic, WOW, it was fantastic. Even my husband who is not a lover of spinach admitted "it was pretty good".  I have also used this sesame oil in my chicken stir fry. You can enjoy the natural flavor of terri-medi sesame oil by just drizzling it over steamed veggies. I'm glad I tried this sesame oil as I will be using this a whole lot more.

When you think of Sesame Oil, you probably think of a heavy, thick oil that they fry Chinese food in. However, the sesame flavor can be delicious on chicken and fish. Terra Medi offers a Extra Virgin Olive Oil that is not to be believed. Light in flavor and texture, Terra Medi cold-presses sesame seeds to create the ultimate oil.  Use it on tuna for a great marinade. Use it on chicken to add some pizzazz. Or I enjoyed it drizzled on rice to give some life and an unexpected twist. This oil even worked great on popcorn…don’t question, just try it I swear.

This was my first exposure to sesame oil, and I am hooked.  The flavors in this oil blend so well.  I don't know what I expected, but certainly not this delicate mix of flavors.  The taste is quite light, and unassuming at first.  But the complexity that remains in the mouth is what surprised me the most.  This is not a cooking oil.  The Terra Medi olive oils can play both sides of that cooking coin, as saute oils and as stand-alone ingredients.  But, the sesame oil deserves its own place.  Much like an icing, this ingredient is the perfect topper.  Whether drizzled over a salad or grilled vegetables, this oil brings out the full flavor of any dish, adding its own nutty finish.

For more information, consumers are welcomed to visit the company’s web site, www.terramedi.com