Poppy seeds are harvested from opium poppy, the flowering plant that brought
sleep to Dorothy and comrades in the classic tale, The Wizard of Oz.
Although
the plant has long been cultivated for opium, it has also been grown
specifically for its seeds since the Bronze Age. In Middle Eastern cuisine, the
seeds are used to enhance the flavor of yeast breads and to make a paste to fill
pastries.
Poppy seeds contain very little opiate derivatives, largely due to the
fact that the best quality seeds are obtained from dried, mature seed pods
instead of unripe green pods. Be aware, however, that the rumor about poppy
seeds is true—consuming a quantity of seeds shortly before taking a drug
screening test can cause false-positive results.
