Poppy seeds are used in cooking and contain alkanoids used to make opiate derivatives. They are native to Asia and Europe, and are used in Turkish and Indian cuisine. Ingesting them can result in a false positive on a drug test. Poppy seeds were well known for their soporific effects in ancient cultures and were used to make opium, heroin, and morphine.
Poppy seeds come from pods at the base of poppy flowers, Papaver somniferum. Many cooking varieties use poppy seeds, whole or ground, as a spice in sauces, breads and marinades. Additionally, poppy seeds contain chemical alkanoids that are used to make opiate derivatives, such as morphine, opium, and heroin.
When polynized poppy blooms shrink, they leave behind a capsule filled with slowly maturing seeds. These types of poppies are native to Asia and Europe. For centuries, many cultures have used their ripe seeds as a spice. Poppy seeds are dark blue or gray in color and smaller than the head of a pin. An Indian variety is whitish. With their mild, nutty flavor, they are used in recipes similar to sesame seeds. The US imports most of our poppy seeds from the Netherlands. When cold pressed, they produce a flavorful oil similar to olive oil.
Turkish and Indian cuisines have inspired many chefs to integrate poppy seeds into main dishes, salads and desserts. It’s common to find poppy seeds sprinkled atop bagels, floating in balsamic vinaigrette, or crusting a roast turkey. You can bake them into pecan muffins, a loaf of lemon bread, or pumpkin cookies. Even though the amount of alkanoids in poppy seeds is negligible, it is true that ingesting them can result in a false positive on a drug test for approximately 48 hours afterward.
In Latin, the name of the poppy “somniferum” means “brings sleep”. The soporific effects of burning or eating poppy seeds were well known to ancient cultures. Eventually, people developed ways to concentrate the alkanoids to make opium and heroin, which are now controlled substances. They were also used to develop the powerful pain reliever, morphine. The tradition surrounding poppy seeds was so strong that women in Europe would place them on a windowsill if they wanted to give birth to a boy rather than a girl.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
