Poppy seeds are oil seeds which are highly nutritious in nature and are used as a condiment in cooking. They are nutty and pleasant to taste. These seeds are procured from dry fruits or pods of the poppy plant. Interestingly, poppy fruit pods also produce opium poppy, a useful anaesthetic drug used in medical opiates such as Morphine. However, the poppy seeds are said to be free from any side effects of opium poppy. These oilseeds are particularly obtained from Papaver somniferum, a species of poppy.

The poppy plant originates from the Papaveraceae family, it is a biennial (grows for two years without replanting) herb belonging to the East Mediterranean and Asia Minor. In the presence of proper sunlight and fertile soil, poppy plants can grow up to 5 feet tall. The kidney-shaped poppy seeds grow from globular or oval-shaped poppy fruits which has a length of 4 to 6 cm and diameter of 3 to 4 cm. Poppy plant flowers in the season of spring. Depending on the variety, the flowers of poppy could be lilac, blue, red, or white in colour.

According to some historians, the tiny, kidney-shaped seeds are being harvested for thousands of years. Poppy seeds were considered healthy food by the ancient Egyptians. It was through these Arab traders that the opium cultivation was spread to India, Ancient Khorasan and Persia. In today's world, poppy seeds are commercial crops that are established well in many parts of the world which includes Germany, India, the East European region, France, Turkey, and the Czech Republic.

Poppy seeds are absolutely safe to use and consume as they contain almost negligible quantities of toxic elements present in the opium poppy. This makes them popular for oil pressing and also as a condiment.

Some basic facts about poppy seeds:

• Botanical Name: Papaver Somniferum
• Family: Papaveraceae
• Common names: Posta dana, Khus Khus
• Geographical distribution: Opium poppy is grown commercially in Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire.
• Parts used: Seeds, pods or fruits, and flowers

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