Poppy seed

Poppy seeds are the dried, ripened seeds from the pod of the opium poppy, a tall annual with beautiful lilac or white flowers that is native to the Middle East. From the Middle East, poppies spread to China some ten centuries ago, and from there through the famous spice route to Europe, where today, poppy seeds are immensely popular. This is especially true in Germany and Scandinavia, where they are used to flavor and decorate a multitude of baked goods. The crunchy texture and nutty flavor of the tiny seeds (1 pound/445 g contains almost a million seeds) is also popular in many savory dishes in the Western kitchen, but even more so in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine.