Blue Poppy seeds are
considered
'European' poppy
seeds because they
are the kind seen
most often on
Western breads,
bagels and in
confectionery. White
poppy seeds are
often referred to as
'Indian', 'Middle
Eastern' or 'Asian'
since they are
featured in these
cuisines. There is
actually very little
difference in
flavour between the
two, so usage is
more a question of
aesthetics or
availability.
Papaver somniferum
is also the opium
poppy, native to the
Middle East and now
grown in China,
Indo-China, India
and Afghanistan. An
inert variety grows
wild and is also
cultivated in Europe
and North America.
The plant's species
name, somniferum,
means 'sleep
inducing' and it is
this narcotic effect
that has provided so
much incentive to
its cultivation. The
oriental variety
yields much opium,
and it is grown
expressly for this
lucrative purpose.
The Western plants
yield little opium
and the latex that
provides the drug is
absent by the time
the flower ripens.
Poppy seeds of
culinary use have
none of the
alkaloids that
comprise the
narcotic. Opium was
known medically to
the ancient
Egyptians and the
classical
civilisations. The
intrigues of the
oriental opium
warlords have been
notorious for
centuries. Opium has
been connected with
literature since the
days of Coleridge
(1772-1834) who
wrote under the
influence of
laudanum, a tincture
of opium (given even
to babies in those
days) and Baudelaire
(1821-1867), an
active member of the
Hashish Club, admits
gaining inspiration
from it in Les Paradis Artificiels.
Poppy seeds are like
tiny hard grains.
The Western type is
slate blue; the
Indian type,
off-white. Both are
kidney-shaped. The
blue seeds average
1mm (.O4in) in
length, while the
white seeds are
somewhat smaller.
They are similar in
flavour and texture
and their uses are
interchangeable. The
seeds mature in a
capsule left after
the flower fades.
They are widely
available in a dried
form. Bouquet: A
mild sweetish aroma
which is brought out
by roasting or
baking. Flavour: Mild
until heated, then
it becomes nutty,
with sweet-spicy
under-tones.
An annual, reaching
30-120cm (1-4ft),
the lobed leaves
have a blue tinge.
The flowers
are
white to purple;
those of Papaver
rhoeas, red. They
grow up to 12cm
(5in) in diameter.
The Eastern wild
varieties usually
sport lilaccoloured
blooms. Many wild
species occur, such
as the Corn Poppy
(P. rhoeas), often
seen in cornfields.
Some varieties are
grown ornamentally.
When the flowers
fade, a capsule
remains, rounded and
crowned with a
star-shaped stigma.
On drying, it
splits, casting out
myriad seeds in the
winds. There are
nearly one million
seeds to the pound
(0.5kg). Wild
varieties flower
from June to August,
cultivated varieties
in July. Aspect:
Sunny. Soil: Loamy. Sow: Early
spring, rows 30cm (I
ft) apart. Poppies
thrive with much
watering, but must
be well weeded.
Papaver somniferum
may not be grown in
Britain or the
United States
without a permit.
In the West,
the blue poppy seeds
are used principally
in confectionery and
in baking. Like
several other spicy
seeds, they are
sprinkled on breads
and buns and used in
a variety of Western
cakes and pastries,
for example in poppy
cakes, strudels and
Danish pastries.
Poppy seed
complements honey
spread an bread,
giving a nice
contrast of texture
Fried in butter,
poppy seed can be
added to noodles or
pasta. It flavours
vegetables and their
accompanying sauces,
especially asparagus
and root vegetables.
Sprinkled into
coleslaw, the seeds
give a contrast of
both colour and
texture. They are
used to top creamed
potatoes and au
gratin dishes, and
sometimes appear in
fish dishes. In
Middle Eastern and
Jewish cookery,
poppy seeds go on
breads and in cakes
and candies and are
often seen studding
pretzels.
In the East the
white poppy seed is
generally used.
Chappatis (Indian
whole-wheat griddle
breads) may contain
it, and certain
curries and
varieties of mixed
spice contain a
small proportion of
poppy. Its function
in curry is
partially to thicken
the liquid and add
texture. The whole
seeds are used in
chutneys. The oil
expressed from poppy
seeds, which the
French call oillette,
is used for culinary
purposes and is an
acceptable
substitute for olive
oil. The European
poppy variety,
Papaver rhoeas, is
used to make a syrup
similar to that of
rose hips, which is
occasionally used in
soups. Being hard to
grind, it requires a
special machine.
These hand-turned
grinders are common
in Austria and
Germany but seldom
seen in elsewhere.
Poppy syrup is made
from the flowers of
the corn poppy or
rose poppy, (P.
rhoeas). It is used
in cordials. This
variety is also
known as 'headache'
- to smell it causes
momentary dizziness.
It is also the poppy
of Remembrance Day
which is the emblem
of the soldiers who
perished in the
Great War. Indian
poppy seed - 'mawseed'
- is a food for
birds.
# Moisture: 4.3 to
5.2 %
# Protein: 22.3 to
24.4 %
# Ether extract:
46.5 to 49.1 %
# Nitrogen free
extract: 11.7 to
14.3 %
# Fibre: 4.8 to 5.8
%
# Total ash: 5.6 to
6.0 %
# Calcium: 1.03 to
1.45 %
# Phosphorus: 0.79
to 0.89 %
# Iron: 8.5 to 11.1
mg/100 gram.
Poppy seeds are also
known to yield
thiamine, riboflavin
and nicotinic acid
considerably,
however with
conscious absence of
carotene. Presence
of small quantities
of minerals such as
iodine, manganese,
copper, magnesium
and zinc can also be
witnessed. The seeds
also contain
lecithin (2.80 %),
oxalic acid (1.62
%), pentosans (3.0
to 3.6 %), traces of
narcotine and an
amorphous alkaloid
and the enzymes
diastase, emulsin,
lipase and nuclease.
Poppy seeds possess
a high protein
content, the major
component being a
globulin, which
accounts for 55 % of
the total nitrogen.
Western poppy syrup
is an anodyne and
expectorant. Eastern
poppy is an anodyne
and narcotic. Cough
mixtures and syrups
are also made from
this variety, which
is further used as a
poultice with
chamomile. An
infusion of seeds is
said to help ear and
tooth ache. The
seeds have
appetising
qualities. The use
and dangers of poppy
plant derivatives,
such as morphine,
heroin and codeine,
are well known. In
the Middle Ages an
anaesthetic was
produced called 'the
soporific sponge',
an infusion made of
poppy, mandrake,
hemlock and ivy that
was poured over a
sponge and held
under the patient's
nostrils.
Poppy seeds are
highly nutritious,
and less allergenic
than many other
seeds and nuts.
Allergy (type 1
hypersensitivity) to
poppy seeds is very
rare, but has been
reported[35][36] and
can cause
anaphylaxis.[36]
Poppy seeds are a
potential source of
anti-cancer drugs.
Poppy seed is very
hard to grind. If
you do not have a
special poppy seed
grinder, first
lightly roast the
seeds and use a
pestle and mortar.
They can be used
either whole or
crushed in cooking
and bakery. When
using them with
uncooked food, such
as salads, roast
them lightly first,
as this strengthens
their flavour and
aroma. When poppy
seeds are used for
pastries, they are
covered with boiling
water and allowed to
stand for one to
three hours before
grinding.
As we believe in
providing quality
products that are
close to nature, we
conduct various
stringent quality
tests under the
supervision of the
experts. These tests
are performed with
due care from the
very initial stage
of procurement of
the products to the
final stage of
delivery to the end
users.
We also provide
reliable packaging
of the Khus Khus
Poppy seed and other
Khus Khus Poppy seed products.
During the packaging
procedure, we keep
the hygienic level
high and also ensure
that there is no
human touch.
Moreover, the
packaging has also
helped in the easy
and safe delivery of
the products.
We are dealing with
various esteemed
clients located in
India as well as in
the markets of New
Zealand and Dubai.
We also promise to
serve a superlative
range of Khus Khus
Poppy seed
and Khus Khus Poppy
seed
products which
includes green
Khus Khus Poppy seed powder to
our new customers as
we serve to our
existing satisfied
clientele. The
frequent and
concrete feedbacks
from our customers
have also helped in
the advancement of
the managerial
activities and
serving the products
as per the demand
prevailing in the
market. Last but not
the least; we are
also looking forward
to provide more
beneficial deals in
the forthcoming
years.