In botanical terms, the poppy seed is popular as Papaver somniferum. It is popular as an oilseed. For thousands of years, poppy seeds have been cultivated from dried seed pods with the help of different civilizations.
The seed pods contain numerous seeds inside it. The kidney-shaped and tiny poppy seeds are used in countries like South Asia and Central Europe. These seeds are legally sold and also grown. You can prepare oil by pressing the poppy seeds. You can also use ground or whole seeds as an ingredient in your meal, like bread and pastry.
Many ancient medical texts prove that many civilizations used poppy seeds as medicines. It was also used as a sedative, according to Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian papyrus scroll. In the Bronze Age, people cultivated and used poppy seeds. They mixed the seeds with honey, opium, and milk to silence the crying babies.
The article below contains almost all kinds of information about poppy seeds, like – poppy seeds in Kannada, including their health benefits, cost, types, popularity, availability, the nutritional value of the poppy seeds, popular recipes, and many more.
| English name | Poppy seed |
| Kannada name | Gasagase Beej or Kasa Kase |
| Binomial name or scientific name | Papaver somniferum |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Papaveraceae |
| Order | Ranunculales |
| Species | P. somniferum |
| Genus | Papaver |
Poppy seeds in Kannada name
Gasagase Beej or Kasa Kase is the name of poppy seeds in Kannada. Although poppy seed is the most popular and used food in West Bengal, most Kannada people also like the use of poppy seed.
If you are in a rural area of Kannada, then there is a possibility that most people can not recognize the name poppy seed. So you have to use Gasagase Beej or Kasa Kase for their better understanding.
But the people of the township and the hotels and restaurants of the city area can understand the word poppy seed, and their menus have so many different poppy seed recipes. You need not use the Kannada name of poppy seeds in those places.
Different names of poppy seeds used in India
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Poppy seeds |
| Odia | Posta or Aphima |
| Tamil | Kasakassa |
| Punjabi | Khas or Khus Khus or Post |
| Malayalam | Kasha Kasha or Kaskas |
| Marathi | Khus Khus or Khaskhas |
| Telugu | Gasagasalu or Kasakasa |
| Hindi | Khus Khus or Post dana or Kashash |
| Kannada | Gasagase Beej or Kasa Kase |
| Gujarati | Khuskhush or Khaskhas or Aphim |
| Bengali | Afing or Kashash or Posto |
Health benefits of poppy seed
Because poppy seed is rich in minerals like sodium, potassium, choline, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iron, etc. and also rich in vitamins, you can get many health benefits from poppy seeds. Some of them are –
1. Poppy seeds help to improve fertility
The oil and seed of poppy plants are amazingly beneficial for promoting female fertility. A fertilized egg can’t be attached to the uterine wall without the permission of a blocked fallopian tube. Your body can dissolve any mucus particle or debris from the fallopian tube with the help of flushing the poppy seed oil with the fallopian tube.
This process helps to clear the blockage and automatically increases fertility chances. According to various research, the poppy seed contains lignin, and the element has an aphrodisiac effect. It helps to enhance sexual health and increases libido.
2. Poppy seeds may help to treat Insomnia
Poppy seed is rich in magnesium which helps to decrease cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. Magnesium helps to improve the duration and quality of peaceful sleep and attenuates stress.
It is highly beneficial to consume poppy seed paste or tea with milk. You should drink it before going to bed. It helps to regulate body metabolism, reduce sleep disorders such as Insomnia, and induce sleep.
3. Poppy seeds help to improve cognitive functions
Iron content is present in poppy seeds. Iron makes poppy seed a natural blood purifier. It helps to increase the count of haemoglobin and blood cells in the blood.
Your brain can increase cognitive functioning and regulate neurotransmitter production by supplying red blood cells and oxygen to the brain. You can consider poppy seeds as a brain food that can help to reduce the risks of some acute diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
4. Poppy seeds help boost bone health
Being an incredibly rich source of calcium, except for the trace minerals zinc and copper, it helps strengthen the connective tissue and bones. The essential minerals help to prevent bone breaking and improve bone mineral density.
The manganese content of poppy seeds helps to protect bones from damage, produce collagen in the bones, and boost overall bone health.
5. Poppy seeds help in good digestion
The poppy seed has a high fibre content. So it is amazingly beneficial for increasing nutrient absorption from food and promoting digestion. Poppy seed also allows smooth passage of food through the alimentary canal and treats constipation.
6. Poppy seeds help to enhance the cardiovascular system
The amount of dietary fibre present in poppy seeds is immense. It helps keep up the good cholesterol level and reduce bad cholesterol. The iron content of poppy seed works as a blood purifier and increases the count of red blood cells.
Poppy seeds contain both omega – 6 fatty acids and oleic acid. Omega – 6 fatty acid is very beneficial, and it helps to boost heart health and reduces the high risk of blockage and heart attack. The oleic acid helps to decrease the level of blood pressure.
7. Poppy seeds help to augment hair and skin health
As a powerhouse of essential nutrients and antioxidants, poppy seeds help to promote overall hair and skin health and reduce scalp infection and skin inflammation. Poppy seeds have a huge amount of linoleic acid.
It is very beneficial to treat itching, burn, and eczema. You can apply the mask of poppy seeds on your face. It helps to provide a glowing and clear complexion and beautiful skin and treats pimples and acne.
Poppy seeds also help to treat dandruff, stimulate hair growth, and reduce hair fall. So you can get all of the above benefits of poppy seed.
Types of poppy seeds
Several poppy seed varieties and species are worldwide according to their lifespan, flower colour, and growth height. Some poppy seed varieties are –
1. Common poppy
Papaver rhoeas is the scientific name of this poppy variety. It is also popular as corn poppy. The temperate climate zone is the native of the common poppy, an annual wild plant.
Usually, you can see this poppy seed variety with cornflowers in the crop field. 40 to 70 cm is the average height of this little plant, and it has feathery and delicate leaves. The plant starts flowering in May, and the process goes on till July.
Generally, the flowers open only for one day, and then the petals are shredded. Oval-round shaped and small seed pods appear after pollination. Each seed pot contains thousands of bluish-grey seeds.
After the maturation of seeds, the plant dies and scatters the seeds. It is the way to germinate new poppy plants.
Generally, wild poppy plants have red flowers, but you can see different colours nowadays, such as grey-purple flowers, pink flowers, and even white flower varieties.
You can also see semi-double and single poppy flowers, and the name of this variety is Shirley Double Poppy. This variety’s flower is the Commonwealth symbol in the UK.
2. Alpine poppy
The scientific name of this poppy variety is Papaver Alpinum. This variety of poppy plants is drought resistant in extreme weather and can thrive on rocky and calcareous grounds in full sun. You can find alpine poppy plants throughout the Alps and over 2000 meters.
The height of these perennial plants is 5 to 20 cm. They can form leafless flower stalks and stout basal rosettes of leaves. The blooming period of flowers of alpine poppy plants is between July to August.
These plants have white to yellow flowers with four petals and are about 5 cm across. The plants can propagate by self-seeding and are good for alpine meadows and rock gardens.
3. Great scarlet poppy
Some other names of this species are Persian poppy and Iranian poppy. Great scarlet poppy is cultivated as a medicinal plant in the Caucasus region up to 2000 meters altitude. 120 cm is the average height of this perennial plant.
Its broad petals are deep red, but the bases of the petals are black, and these are the stamens. Thebaine is an important element that is mostly used in painkiller production. Culturing Great scarlet poppy species is also allowed outside areas of pharmaceutical use.
You can breed this species with Papaver orientale, an Oriental poppy species, and use the outcome as an ornamental plant. May to July is the period of its flowering.
4. Iceland poppy
The scientific name of this variety is Papaver nudicaule. This species is also popular as a bare-stemmed poppy. You can find this cold-tolerant poppy variety in the subarctic regions of Asia, America, and Iceland.
The life of this perennial Iceland poppy is very short. The maximum lifespan of this variety I almost two years, but the seeds are abundant. The average height of this small-growing poppy variety is around 100 to 60 cm. But it can improve in lean soil, poor calcareous, full sun, and well drainage.
This species appears with bare flower stalks and without leaves, which is the popular botanical name. The appearance period of the flowers of Iceland poppy is from May to September. The colour of the flowers may be white, yellow, orange, or red.
Some hybrid Iceland poppy varieties are – Garden Gnome poppy, Champagne Bubbles F1 white poppy, Spring Fever Red poppy, and Meadow pastel poppy.
5. Caucasian scarlet poppy
The scientific name of this poppy species is Papaver commutated. It is also popular as a ladybird poppy. It is the same as the common poppy variety, and its height can reach approximately 10 to 50 cm. Its stems are hairy, thin, and leafless.
The flowering period of the Caucasian scarlet poppy variety is between May to June. Its deep red flowers and their petal bases have large black spots. Because of its appearance, it is famous as a ladybird poppy.
6. Opium poppy
Papaver somniferum is the scientific name for this variety. The milky latex of this poppy species is used to produce both heroin and medicine.
There are various varieties of opium poppy which are grown for ornamental plant purposes and are poor in active alkaloids. The seeds of these varieties are used to make oil or for baking.
The Australian opium poppy varieties are grown in gardens and large areas. They offer attractive flowers and edible poppy seeds. This variety flowers in May and June, and their maximum height is approximately 60 to 150 cm.
The flowers are quite large, and their shape is bulbous, not round. Some beautiful opium poppy varieties are – the Maanzaad poppy, Flemish Antique poppy, Danish Flag poppy, Blue Moon poppy, White-flowered poppy, Black Peony poppy, and Lauren’s Grape poppy.
7. Spanish poppy
Papaver Rupifragum is the botanical name for this poppy variety. The lifespan of this perennial poppy variety is short, and it is a self-seeding plant like many other poppy species. Spanish poppy can grow up to 30 to 60 cm, and its flowering period is between June and September.
The flower colour of the Spanish poppy variety is bright orange-red. It is distinguished from other poppy species by its typical elongated fruit capsules. The perfect weather for this variety is sunny and dry location. Flore Pleno poppy is the most famous Spanish poppy with terracotta-coloured flowers.
8. Oriental poppy
Papaver orientale is the scientific name for this poppy variety. Another popular name is the Turkish poppy. 70 to 100 cm is the average growing height of this perennial and clum-forming poppy species.
This species dies after the flowering process is done. So there is no requirement to deadhead this poppy variety. After flowering, it produces new and fresh foliage in autumn. The diameter of the cupped flowers of oriental poppy species is 18 cm, and its flowering period is from May to June.
The origin of the oriental poppy species is America, Iran, and the Caucasus region. The main preferences of this species are light to heavy, well-drained, and dry to fresh soil with full sun.
Some popular oriental poppy varieties are – The Beauty of Livermere Poppy, Harvest Moon Poppy, Marlene Poppy, Patty’s Plum Poppy, Princess Victoria Louise Poppy, Pink Perfection Poppy, and Royal Wedding Poppy.
9. Papaver Miyabeanum
This groundcover poppy variety can grow up to approximately 20 cm wide and 10 to 15 cm high. Papaver Miyabeanum is evergreen and frost-hardy. It flowers between May to June, and the flowers are pale lemon-yellow.
The poppy variety needs fresh to dry and well-drained soil (for example – rock garden and stepped garden beds ) with sunny spots. Pacino is the most popular variety of this species.
Nutritional value of poppy seeds
The nutritional fact of a poppy seed that you can get from 100 grams of a poppy seed –
| Nutritions | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Energy | 525 kcal |
| Protein | 21.22 grams |
| Water | 5.95 grams |
| Fat | 41.56 grams |
| Popyunsaturated fat | 28.569 grams |
| Monounsaturated fat | 5.982 grams |
| Saturated fat | 4.517 grams |
| Carbohydrates | 28.13 grams |
| Dietary fiber | 19.5 grams |
| Sugars | 2.99 grams |
| Minerals | Quantity | % of the daily value |
|---|---|---|
| Zinc | 7.0 mg | 74% |
| Sodium | 26 mg | 2% |
| Selenium | 0 mg | – |
| Copper | 0 mg | – |
| Potassium | 719 mg | 15% |
| Phosphorus | 870 mg | 124% |
| Manganese | 2.285 mg | 109% |
| Magnesium | 347 mg | 98% |
| Iron | 9.76 mg | 75% |
| Calcium | 1438 mg | 144% |
| Vitamins | Quantity | % of the daily value |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 0IU | – |
| Vitamin A equivalent Beta-carotene Lutein zeaxanthin | 0 microgram | 0% |
| Vitamin B1 ( thiamine ) | 0.854 mg | 74% |
| Vitamin B2 ( riboflavin ) | 0.100 mg | 8% |
| Vitamin B3 ( niacine ) | 0.896 mg | 6% |
| Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) | 0 mg | – |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.247 mg | 19% |
| Vitamin B9 ( folate ) | 82 micrograms | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 1 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin E | 1.77 mg | 12% |
| Vitamin K | 0.0 micrograms | 0% |
| Choline | 52.1 mg | 11% |
You can get 525 kcal energy from just 100 grams of poppy seed. Poppy seed is a rich source of folate, thiamin, and various essential minerals like – magnesium, iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and manganese.
Poppy seed ( 100 grams ) is a great combination of 28% carbohydrates, 21% protein, 6% water, and 42% fat. The nutritional value of poppy seed is very eye-catching and offers many health benefits.
Cost of poppy seeds in Kannada areas
The cost of poppy seed in India gradually increases because of its heavy demand. You can buy approximately 1kg of poppy seeds by spending around Rs 800 to Rs 1500.
The cost varies according to the buying place, packaging, type, quality, and brands. The cost of poppy seed in Karnataka is Rs 1590 per kg. The price of poppy seed is high because of its limited cultivation and less import.
Availability and popularity of poppy seeds in Kannada areas ( Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Pondicherry, etc.)
The cultivation of poppy seeds is limited because of government restrictions. Because it is used to make heroin, many states and countries are restricted from cultivating poppy seeds. The poppy seed cultivation areas in India are – Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
India has a serious need for poppy seeds and depends on imports to fulfil the requirement. The government allows the cultivation of poppy seeds only in cases of medicinal purposes and domestic codeine demand.
The love for poppy seeds among Indians is high, especially in Bengali. They love to consume poppy seeds or Posto in each dish.
Popular recipes for poppy seeds in Kannada areas
Poppy seed can be used in various cuisines worldwide because of its nutty and rich flavour. You should remove any stones and clean the poppy seeds before using them. If you want to use poppy seeds paste, soak them in warm milk or water for at least 2 hours and then grind them.
If you provide heat, then the tasteless poppy seeds gain the flavour of spicy-sweet and nutty. To make the seeds crunchier, you can fry them. If you fry them, they release aromatic oil. If you bake or roast them, they provide a mild sweet smell.
Most famous dishes of poppy seeds are – poppy seed cake, poppy seed roll, soft lemon poppy seed cookies, poppy seed-crusted cauliflower, Aloo Posto, poppy seed halwa, poppy seed and Badam milk, lemon poppy seed smoothie, sweet poppy seed pasta, etc.
Final verdict
Poppy seed has a distinctive flavour and aroma. This nutty seed is mostly used in condiments form. It contains protein, carbohydrates, essential minerals, vitamins, dietary fibres, and electrolytes.
Poppy seed is very beneficial in treating kidney disorders, heart problems, gastrointestinal issues, and sleeplessness, and it boosts overall health and cognitive functioning.
The above article is all about poppy seeds in Kannada, including their health benefits, cost, types, popularity, availability, the nutritional value of poppy seeds, popular recipes, and many more. So hope you got all kinds of information about poppy plants and seeds.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the types of poppy species?
Several poppy varieties and species are worldwide according to their lifespan, flower colour, and growth height. Some varieties are – Common poppy, Alpine poppy, Great scarlet poppy, Iceland poppy, Caucasian poppy, Opium poppy, Spanish poppy, and Oriental poppy.
2. How does poppy seed help boost the cardiovascular system?
The amount of dietary fibre present in poppy seeds is immense. It helps keep up the good cholesterol level and reduce bad cholesterol. The iron content of poppy seed works as a blood purifier and increases the count of red blood cells. Poppy seeds contain both omega – 6 fatty acids and oleic acid.
Omega – 6 fatty acid is very beneficial, and it helps to boost heart health and reduces the high risk of blockage and heart attack. The oleic acid helps to decrease the level of blood pressure.
3. What are the health benefits of poppy seeds?
1. Poppy seeds help to improve fertility
2. Poppy seeds may help to treat Insomnia
3. Poppy seeds help to improve cognitive functions
4. Poppy seeds help to boost bone health
5. Poppy seeds help in good digestion
6. Poppy seeds help to enhance the cardiovascular system
7. Poppy seeds help to augment hair and skin health
8. Poppy seeds help to cure ulcers
9. Poppy seeds help to regulate blood pressure
10. Poppy seeds help to boost immunity power
