Poppy seeds

Delivered in a resealable bag

Uses in Cooking:

Poppy seeds are primarily used in bread or biscuits: either sprinkled on top of certain breads (notably in Alsace, Slavic, and Germanic countries) or incorporated into the dough. They are also sometimes mixed with other seeds, such as flax or sesame, and used in certain savory crackers for aperitifs.

The delicate flavor of poppy is reminiscent of hazelnut, and its small seeds create a delightful crunch. It can also be used in more creative ways, such as crusting salmon fillets: dip the fillets in beaten egg, then roll them in poppy seeds instead of breadcrumbs. Fry the coated salmon in a pan with a bit of olive oil. The flavor is excellent, and the color contrast is stunning!

In Poland and Hungary, poppy seeds are widely used in pastries: the seeds are crushed to form a paste, which is then spread in a thick layer inside a cake. This cake is typically a sponge cake baked on a sheet, then topped with the poppy seed paste. Finally, the sponge cake is carefully rolled around the poppy mixture, and the pastry is ready.

Who am I?

Origin: Turkey

Scientific name: Papaver somniferum nigrum

Common names: Black poppy, opium poppy, blue poppy, eyelet poppy

Poppy seeds are small, slate-blue, and oil-rich. The plant is an annual herbaceous species with flowering stems that can reach 1.50 meters, belonging to the Papaveraceae family. It is native to Southern Europe and North Africa. The "opium poppy" is quite common in Europe, where it grows in the same calcareous soils as the corn poppy.

The term "poppies" refers to all Papaveraceae species, which include everything from roadside corn poppies to opium poppies. These are all plants with large, solitary, often brightly colored flowers featuring four satin-like, slightly crumpled petals resembling crepe paper. Beneath the flowers, large capsules form, containing numerous seeds. These dried capsules are also decorative in dried flower arrangements.

There are two varieties of "Papaver somniferum":

• The "nigrum" variety, or black poppy, also known as eyelet poppy, has reddish-purple flowers and produces the seeds we consume, which are discussed here.
• The "album" variety provides opium, featuring white flowers and large yellowish seeds. When the capsule beneath the petals is incised, it exudes a white latex known as opium. This latex is processed into morphine for medical use, as a potent analgesic, or into illegal drugs like heroin.

In dietetics, poppy seeds are renowned for their oil, rich in fatty acids and known as eyelet oil. Poppy seeds are also high in vitamins B1, lecithin, and proteins, and contain over 50% eyelet oil. This oil is also used as a drying agent in high-quality paints.

The narcotic principles of opium are only present in trace amounts in the seeds and have no effect when consumed as food.

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A Little History:

The oldest poppy capsules and seeds in the world, over 4,000 years old, were discovered in Switzerland, dating back to the Stone Age.

Poppy seeds likely reached the Asian continent around the 13th century BC, brought by the Arabs.

Translation:

English: Poppy           German: Mohn

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