Poppy seed

Poppy seeds are a type of oilseed obtained from the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum). The tiny, kidney-shaped seeds have been harvested from dried seed pods by various civilizations for thousands of years. Poppy seeds are widely used in many countries, especially in Central Europe and South Asia, where they are legally grown, used in food products, and sold in shops. The seeds are used either whole, or ground into meal as an ingredient in many foods – especially in pastry and bread. It is also possible to press poppyseeds into edible poppyseed oil.