Premium Quality Poppy Seeds Sortex -100gm

Premium Poppy Seeds (Khus Khus / Posto) — the gravy thickener

Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) are the dried seeds of the opium poppy — the seeds themselves contain no opioids and are completely safe for culinary use (they’re legally sold worldwide as food). Indian cuisine uses white poppy seeds (khus khus) extensively for thickening Mughlai gravies, Bengali posto preparations, and traditional sweets where they provide a nutty-floral flavour and silky texture.

What Sortex grade means

Sortex is a brand name for optical/electronic sorting machines that automatically separate clean seeds from stones, dust, discoloured seeds, and foreign matter. Sortex-grade poppy seeds are visibly cleaner and more uniform than hand-sorted — essential for premium cooking.

Essential uses

Mughlai gravies: Soak 2 tbsp poppy seeds in warm water 20 min, grind to smooth paste with 2 tbsp cashews. This is the signature thickener for white chicken korma, mughlai paneer, and malai kofta.

Bengali posto: Soak 3 tbsp poppy seeds, grind with green chilli to paste. Cook with vegetables (potato posto, posto chingri) — the classical Bengali comfort food.

South Indian coconut masalas: 1 tbsp poppy seeds + coconut + spices ground as curry paste.

Sweets and baking: Topping for breads, filling for pastries, ingredient in halwas.

Kashmiri cooking: Classical component of yakhni-style gravies.

Storage

Poppy seeds have natural oils that can go rancid faster than many spices. Best stored in airtight jar in refrigerator (1 year) or cool dry cupboard away from heat (6 months). Smell before use — rancid seeds smell sharp/sour.

FAQ

Are poppy seeds illegal? No — they are legal food worldwide. The opium-producing parts of the plant are controlled; the seeds are not.

Can poppy seeds show up on a drug test? Trace opiate alkaloids on seed surfaces can show on sensitive drug tests. Avoid in the week before a test.

White vs black poppy seeds? Indian cooking uses white; European/Eastern European cooking uses the darker varieties. Different flavours, not substitutes.

How much per gravy? 2-3 tbsp for a 4-person Mughlai curry.

Is poppy seed healthy? Good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, and plant fibre. Culinary quantities are nutritious.