POPPY SEEDS

Poppy seeds had already been cultivated by the Egyptians, the Minoans and the Sumerians.

In the old days, it was used as a remedy to aid sleeping, but it was also a symbol of fertility and wealth.

The flavour of poppy seeds is not released until processed by heat. Poppy seeds are used for toppings, added to bread, muffins and pancakes; whereas, ground poppy seeds are added to various fillings to make different desserts.

In Slovenia, poppy seed is most famous for the Prekmurje layer pastry (“Prekmurska gibanica”), poppy seed roll (“potica”) or as a noodle topping.

The largest growers of poppy seeds are the Czech Republic, Turkey and Spain.

The Common Poppy is an oleaginous annual plant. The plant grows from 30 to 130 centimetres high and blooms from June to August. Poppy seeds for human consumption are harvested from dried seed pods.

In some cultures, poppy flowers carry a strong symbolism – red poppy flowers are a symbol of remembrance of the soldiers who have died during wartime, and white poppy flowers are a symbol of peace and women’s solidarity.

Poppies were also used in folk medicine in the Game of Thrones, where the so-called “milk of the poppy” is used as a sedative.