"Crispy snacks tip-tap across the globe, merrily tossing a vast array of flavors and textures into afternoon nibbles and evening treats. Sometimes those crunchy delights even carry subtle ties to local culture, ingredients, and nuanced doses of history. That's definitely the case with the multi-faceted Benne wafers, a deeply significant sweet-and-savory treat from the American South, specifically the Lowcountry region. They're ultra-thin and crunchy sesame wafers originating in Charleston, South Carolina, where they've been a symbol of good fortune for generations."
"Benne wafers are traditionally made with benne, an heirloom variety of sesame seed cultivated by Gullah Geechie communities of the Lowcountry. The seeds made their way to the Carolina Sea Islands in the early 1700s via the transatlantic slave trade. Today, benne-seed wafers are beloved snacks perching proudly in Charleston's markets, bakeries, and gift shops, where they're considered a signature South Carolina treat."
Benne wafers are ultra-thin, crispy sesame wafers from Charleston made with heirloom benne seeds cultivated by Gullah Geechie communities. The seeds arrived on the Carolina Sea Islands in the early 1700s via the transatlantic slave trade and became a vital source of sustenance for enslaved Africans. The wafers feature toasted benne that provides deep, nutty undertones balanced with buttery brown-sugar sweetness; variations may add maple syrup, vanilla, or lemon. The wafers shatter on the tongue with tingly sweetness and are considered a symbol of good fortune. Benne wafers remain a signature Lowcountry snack sold in markets, bakeries, and gift shops.
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