In addition to delicious desserts, poppy seeds are the raw material for many of our medicines

Poppy seeds traditionally play an important role in Hungarian gastronomy, primarily as the main ingredient for various sweets and desserts. They take on special significance during the end-of-year holidays, as Christmas bagels would be unthinkable for many people without a rich poppy seed filling.

According to the National Chamber of Agriculture, the poppy cultivation area in our country has expanded from 9 thousand hectares to more than 12 thousand hectares in the past 10 years, with the sowing area of ​​various poppy varieties having nearly doubled since joining the EU. This is primarily due to the extremely diverse utilization of poppy seeds as a raw material for the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as for flower arrangements. Poppy cultivation is strictly regulated in the EU. Accordingly, it can be grown for personal use on an area of ​​less than 500 m2, using varieties with a low alkaloid content of less than 0.06 percent. Its cultivation on a larger area, or the sowing of varieties with a high alkaloid content for pharmaceutical use, requires a permit.

Most people like poppy seeds for their rich flavor, but few know that the mineral content of poppy seeds is also remarkable, containing many trace elements and minerals that are essential for the functioning of our body. It has a high calcium and iron content, phosphorus also strengthens bone tissue, and manganese is needed for collagen production, so it is good not only for bones and joints, but also for the skin. Therefore, poppy seeds can be consumed not only as an ingredient in dishes, but also as a dietary supplement: mix the ground poppy seeds with a little water, season with honey, heat them slightly over steam, put them in a steamer, and then store them in the refrigerator. Consume at least 1 tablespoon of it daily.