Wadaman Dark Roasted Golden Sesame Oil

This rich, nutty, deep golden oil recently won our taste test for the best toasted sesame oil. It comes from Osaka’s Wadaman Co., Ltd., a top producer of sesame products for more than 130 years. The fourth-generation owner, Etsuji Wada, has roasted the seeds himself for over four decades. (His expertise produces toasted sesame seeds in a class all their own, and the oil they yield is no exception.) Though labeled as a dark sesame oil, Wadaman’s offering straddles the line between dark and light. We found it to have a smooth, nutty, rich flavor and a pleasantly toasty aroma that’s less assertive than other dark oils. A little goes a long way: Just a splash of the oil adds a warm depth to blanched veggies, light broths, marinades and stir-fries. Its roasted nature makes it a great finishing oil, too; simply drizzle it over thick-sliced steak or pork chops, steamed dumplings and cold noodle salads. This is roasted sesame oil at its finest—and it is well worth the price tag.