The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

Edible poppy seeds

Essex, United Kingdom Gb

Can I use the seed from Opium poppies for baking, or do the edible ones come from another sort of poppy? I have used Nigella seed on Greek flatbreads (it was in the recipe) with no ill effect!


On plant Papaver


Answers

 

Opium poppies (Papaver somniferum) and oriental poppies (Papaver orientalis) are different plants, so it depends which one you have. I am unsure whether Papaver orientalis seeds are usable in baking.

The last time I bought poppy seeds for culinary purposes in the house the packet said it was blue poppies (bought from Chinese supermarket) but I'm fairly sure that Papaver somniferum is used for baking and you can also use Papaver rhoeas for that purpose too. I think the opiate alkaloids or at least the majority of them are in the seed casing rather than the seeds themselves.

I'm intrigued by the usage of Nigella in flatbreads - with it self-seeding more massively in my borders than the poppies, maybe I should take note!

15 Sep, 2008

 

Thanks for that, Elleme! Don't know how I came to put "orientalis" cos I meant "somniferum". I have more than enough seed for garden purposes, just want to use it up anyway possible!

19 Sep, 2008

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

Related photos

  • Oriental Poppy Victoria Louise (Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy))
    Janey
  • Poppy with her namesake! (Papaver Cambrica.......Welsh Alpine Poppy)
    Janey
  • Papaver Orientale........Victoria Louise (Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy))
    Janey
  • Shirley Poppies (papaver)
    Janey

Related products

 


Related questions

Not found an answer?