Poppy seeds can also be used like sesame seeds, added to hamburger buns or to make a bar of candy. In North America they are used in and on many food items such as poppyseed muffins, rusk, bagels (like the Montreal-style bagel), bialys, and cakes such as sponge cake. Whole poppy seeds are widely used as a spice and decoration in and on top of many baked goods and pastries. Poppy seeds are composed of 6% water, 28% carbohydrates, 42% fat, and 21% protein (table).įood products Intact seeds In a 100 gram amount, poppy seeds provide 525 calories and are a rich source of thiamin, folate, and several essential minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc (table). †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Since poppy seeds are relatively expensive, they are sometimes mixed with the seeds of Amaranthus paniculatus, which closely resemble poppy seeds. The seeds may be washed to obtain poppy tea but a large amount is needed, around 300–400 g depending on the levels of opiates. Compared to the seed pod and straw, the seeds contain very low levels of opiates. Poppy straw can be a by-product of cultivation of poppy seeds. Traditionally, opium is harvested while the seed pods are green and the seeds have just begun to grow and their latex is abundant. However, harvesting for poppy seeds of superior quality is in conflict with harvesting for opium as poppy seeds should be harvested when they are ripe, after the seed pod has dried. The poppy seeds harvest can be a by-product of cultivation of Papaver somniferum for opium, poppy straw, or both opium and poppy straw. In 2018, world production of poppy seeds was 76,240 tonnes, led by Turkey with 35% of the world total, followed by the Czech Republic and Spain as other major producers (table). Production Poppy seed production ( tonnes) The California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica), for example, is a striking orange wildflower that grows in the Western and Northwestern United States. Annual and biennial poppies are considered a good choice to cultivate from seed as they are not difficult to propagate by this method, and can be put directly in the ground during January. The seeds of other poppy types are not eaten, but they are cultivated for the flowers they produce.

The primary flavor compound is 2-pentylfuran. It takes about 3,300 poppy seeds to make up a gram, and between 1 and 2 million seeds to make up a pound. Poppy seeds are less than a millimeter in length, kidney-shaped, and have a pitted surface. The Sumerians are another civilization that are known to have grown poppy seeds. The Minoan civilization (approximately 2700 to 1450 BC), a Bronze Age civilization which arose on the island of Crete, cultivated poppies for their seed, and used a milk, opium and honey mixture to calm crying babies. For instance, the Egyptian papyrus scroll named Ebers Papyrus, written c. The poppy seed is mentioned in ancient medical text from many civilizations. Dried poppy seed pods with stems attached, and seeds (in bowl)