Poppy Seeds

Poppy seeds come from the opium poppy plant. They are a tiny oil seed with a kidney shape (hard to make out to the naked eye) and have been used for centuries in cooking.

Poppy seeds contain many plant derived compounds with anti-oxidant, disease preventing and health promoting properties. These include essential fatty acids and essential volatile oils which comprise about 50% of their weight and contribute to their unique nutty aromatic flavor. Poppy seeds are also surprisingly high in fibre (for such a tiny seed), and are also rich in many vitamins and minerals (see below).

Recipe Ideas and Inspiration:

Poppy seeds complement both sweet or savoury cooking and are most notable for their appearance in breads, bagels and cakes. They are more popularly known in the gluten free Orange and Poppy Seed Cake.

Interesting Facts about the Opium/Poppy plant:

The poppy plant grows up to 5 feet in height. It requires full sunlight and fertile soil to flourish. Depending upon its variety, lilac, blue, red or white flowers appear during spring on long peduncles which subsequently turn into globular or oval shaped fruit.

Today, the poppy plant is commercially grown for the cultivation of poppy seeds in many parts of the world including Czech Republic, Germany, Turkey, France, India, Eastern Europe and Australia.