The Amazing Versatility of Poppy Seeds

The Poppy is one of the most iconic flowers of the summer.

Poppies are gorgeous. Depending on the variety, they are bursting with colour, full bodied in textures ranging from paper thin to feathery fluffy balls.

Did you know that the tiny black seeds which become such beautiful flowers have culinary uses which are far more satisfying, and non addictive, than a high which can bring you low.

What is a poppy?

The plant is a native of Eurasia and Africa with relatives in the USA.

Family: Papaveraceae

Depending on the variety they are herbaceous perennial, biennial or annual.

They are frost hardy prefer well drained soil.

Varieties of Poppies with edible seeds

Papaver rhoeas

As a famous post war symbol to recall the fallen, red field poppies, Papaver rhoeas, also know as corn poppy, or field poppy was made famous by John McCrae in the war poem “In Flanders Fields” inspired by blooming poppies in Belgium. Seeds can remain dormant for many years where they fall, and germinate once their resting place is becomes fertile for them..

Papaver paeoniflorum

I have lots of spent poppy flowers, PAPAVER PAEONIFLORUM, in the garden almost ready to burst their pods. It would be a shame to waste such viable seeds. I have always saved some for planting in the past, which is why I have so many this year. This has led me to research the various ways I can use the seeds.

Papaver orientale

The Papaver Orientale, (Oriental poppy) seemed to disappear quickly this year. Even though this poppy comes in numerous colours, the Prince of Orange variety always sets spectacular scene in the garden. The eye is just drawn to these bright orange blooms with the large dark centre, in a display which last about 2 weeks.

This herbaceous perennial poppy forms dense clusters, and the leaves seem like weeds until the flowers burst open.

The seed pods seemed to be below average size, and the flowers were not as numerous as in previous years so I did not think think about using them for the seeds.

Since I am all about growing your own and reducing waste as much as possible I looked at all the possibilities, both medicinal and culinary.

Papaver somniferum

We can eat the seeds from the following poppies : Papaver somniferum, Opium poppy – An annual from the Middle East. It is from the sap of the seed pods of this poppy that Opium is derived. This is not a legal plant in many countries.

Opium

No, I am not going to start an opium den. Even though I have always liked Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1797 poem Kubla Khan. As a writer the thought of boosting my creativity and creating a masterpiece, like he did after a drug induced stupor, was a fleeting. However, the path today is to share the gift of poppy seeds.

There is opium content in the dry poppy seeds of the mentioned varieties . It is a very small amount, and if you eat baked goods laced with poppy seeds, morphine may show up in a blood test depending on how its done and what they are looking for. The better the equipment used the less chance the normal ingestion of commercial products will be an issue.

Luckily for me the poppies which started this quest, the papaver paeonium seeds are edible, and can be used in oils and soaps. Check out the amazing contents of poppy seed oil here.

Collecting Seeds

The main rule for harvesting poppy seeds is to wait until they are ready. Seeing all the green seed pods bobbing in the wind makes you want to cut them and shake out the seeds. You will not get viable seeds if pods are still green. It will be worth the wait.

The seed pod has to be completely dry and the the exit holes for the seeds at the top of the pods have to be open and visible. They are ready to harvest when they are brown, hard and dry. You can hear and see the seeds if you tip the pod at this point.

The easiest method is to tie a bunch of seed pods together and put them in a container. You can shake some out over the course of a few days until the seeds are all out.

Traditional Benefits of Poppy seeds

Poppy seeds are used in breads, cakes, and salads. They are even used in the production of soap and paint.

Health Benefits of Poppy Seeds

In India, poppy seeds have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine and are called Khus Khus. It is said to calm the heart and helps to balance the mood. Poppies also provide the following *benefits:

Minerals – calcium, iron,zinc and phosphorus, manganese, copper

Vitamins – E, B6 and Protein

Source of fibre

Because of the above contents poppy seeds are said to assist with conditions such as:

Thyroid

Diabetes

Insomnia

It is also an analgesic.

How to use poppy seeds in cooking

There are so many scrumptious baked recipes which use poppy seeds. Shake it, bake it, whatever way you choose it is still delicious.

The seeds should be soaked to soften them which allows the hard texture of the seed covering to be more palatable, and the flavour to be easily released when heated. Depending on the recipe you can also grind them in a mixer.

Here is my favourite poppy seed recipe from Polonist.com Known in Poland as Makowiec, this Polish Poppy Seed Roll is delicious.

Let me know your favourite use of poppy seeds in the comments below.

*This information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse affects. Check with your health care provider as to how use may affect you.