The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) originally comes from the Mediterranean region, but it grows and thrives almost everywhere - even in our latitudes. Although the - very healthy - seeds of the opium poppy are very popular for baking, the cultivation of the plant is forbidden in Germany. From the seed pods of the opium poppy, not only are the seeds obtained, but also the milky juice containing opiate - from which opium and heroin can ultimately be produced.

Opium poppy seeds are tasty and healthy

Bake with the seeds of the opium poppy

The seeds of the opium poppy - available in the supermarket in whole or ground form as baking or blue poppy - also contain small amounts of opiates, but are not suitable for the production of drugs. Instead, the nutty and very oily ones can be used for baking and cooking: poppy seed rolls, bread with poppy seeds, poppy seed cake and yeast dumplings with poppy seeds - traditional and modern cuisine offers a variety of tried and tested and delicious recipes.

Poppy seeds contain few opiates

There is also no danger of getting high or becoming addicted - after all, the opiate content in the seeds is simply too low for that. However, a drug test can still be positive after eating a poppy seed roll, and the import of food containing poppy seeds is strictly forbidden in many countries.

Rich in vitamins and trace elements

Opium poppy seeds are one of the foods richest in calcium, and the granules also contain many vitamins from the B group and many important trace elements and minerals. The seeds provide magnesium (347 milligrams per 100 grams of seeds), phosphorus (870 milligrams per 100 grams of seeds), iron, zinc, potassium and sodium. In addition, the seeds are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which is why they are often pressed into cooking oil.

Buy opium poppy unground if possible

If you want to use the opium poppy seeds for baking, it is best to buy them whole. The granules contain a lot of linoleic acid, which is difficult to retain in ground seeds and then quickly goes rancid. You can easily grind the seeds finely in a coffee or grain grinder if needed.

Buy and grow opium poppies

You can legally buy opium poppy seeds under the name blue or baking poppy in the supermarket, but also in organic shops, pharmacies, health food stores or on the Internet. In theory, these seeds are even suitable for sowing, provided they are not ground. However, you should better leave this alone, because the cultivation of opium poppies falls under the Narcotics Act in Germany and is therefore strictly prohibited. So you can buy and use the seeds, but not cultivate the plant - violators face imprisonment of up to five years or heavy fines. In exceptional cases, however, the cultivation of poppies can be applied for and permitted at the Federal Opium Agency.

tips

If you only want to put poppies in the garden as an ornamental plant, you can use legal species such as Turk's poppies, gold poppies or corn poppies. However, their seeds are not suitable for consumption.

Category:

Herbs