Poppy seeds are tiny kidney shaped seeds that are harvested straight from the seed pods of a plant called opium poppy. The plant has been long cultivated in various civilizations for different purposes. For the ancient civilization of Egypt, poppy seeds have been used as a sedative and are named as Ebers Papyrus which can be seen in the ancient writings that dated 1550 BC. In other cultures, poppy seeds have long been used as a remedy to aid sleeping and to promote fertility and wealth.
These days, a lot of new ways have been developed in using dried poppy pods . In some parts of the world, poppy seeds are cultivated for their flower bearing importance. An example of which is the California poppy that gives out a gorgeous orange wildflower. Annual and biennial poppies are more preferable in this case because they are much easier to grow through poppy seeds.
Another great use of poppy seeds is that they come as an important component of bird seed mixtures. Poppy seeds are known to be very nutritious which makes it why they can be given separately in higher amounts to treat bird ailments such as diarrhea, gastrointestinal distress, and other pain and discomforts.
Other than being a delightful specialty for many types of birds, poppy seeds can also be pressed to produce poppy seed oil. This oil makes a perfect use for cooking, varnishes and soaps, moisturizing skin, and even as a carrier for oil based paints. But in most cases, poppy seed oil is used as a salad or dipping oil. It was also known that in the ancient traditional medicine, poppy seeds are ground until they produce a fine paste that can be mixed with milk and applied on the skin as a moisturizer.
But in general, poppy seeds work best as an exceptional ingredient for baked goods like muffins, cakes, and bread. Taking a bite of the poppy strudel which is very popular in Central Europe will make you well associated with poppy seeds’ main role on these goods. The strudel by the way is a layered pastry perfected with a soft creamy filling.
The best known types of strudel in Europe are the Apfelstrudel or strudel with apple and the Topfenstrudel or strudel with sweet soft quark cheese. Going further for more delicious baked goods, poppy seeds can also be used as sesame seeds to make a bar of candy. These bars of candy are often made of boiled seeds mixed with sugar and honey. Ground poppy seeds are then added on the surface of these bars to make a beautiful and delicious finish.
