Tahini factory owner Ibrahim Hassan was well prepared for the two-day event that kicked off on Thursday. His sesame seed grinder worked around the clock, powered by hydroelectricity, to produce nearly 1,000 kilos of the delicious paste.
“We grind around 60 tons of our sesame a year, in addition to 15-20 tons from other people,” said Hassan.
Amedi has 34 grinders partially powered by hydroelectricity, turning sesame seeds into delicious tahini.
Last year, nearly 600 tons of tahini were produced in the town, with 65 tons exported to the Netherlands and 25 tons to the United States, according to Hakar Hamid, head of Amedi agriculture directorate.
“Eight hundred and fifty dunams of land was used for sesame in Amedi, producing nearly 240 tons of sesame,” said Hamid.
The festival, which attracts people from across the Kurdistan Region, is growing. Last year, there were 40 tents. This year, the number increased to 60.
