The seed from the annual poppy Papaver somniferum are used in cooking. In Canada and the US it is legal to have seeds but illegal to have any other part of this plant. Many people do grow it and suffer no adverse consequences. But the authorities can destroy or make you destroy the plants. Unless you are growing acres of it or growing for nefarious purposes, this will likely not happen. There is the concept of mens rea. Seed colour and basal patch colour are related. Petals with a white basal patch will have white or straw coloured seeds. Petals with a dark basal patch will have dark coloured seeds. The dark basal patch and dark seeds are coloured with anthocyanin. The blue-grey seeds are prefered for baking. In India, the white seeds are more common. If you plan to grow these plants in quantity for the seeds, then go to the baking or bulk section of the supermarket and buy 100 grams for $1 or $2. For white seeds, go to an East Indian grocery store. Sometimes the seeds have been steam heated to prevent them from germinating. You will have to just to do a germination test and find seeds that are fertile. The infertile seeds can of course be used in baking. When making banana bread, line the pan with butter and coat the butter with poppy seeds before adding the batter. Takes the banana bread up to the next level so to speak.

If you are looking for a poppy that produces seed used in baking, that would be papaver somniferum. It comes if both double and single, has been hybridized to produce ornamental cultivars, and can be grown from seed. You might also find it called "breadseed poppy." Once you know what you are looking for, you won't have trouble finding seed. Many seed catalogs carry it. It is the same poppy that is used for opium production, but that is obtained from the plant's sap, not the seeds.

Glad you know about storing them in the freezer. I learned that here, and the hard way after having a bag go bad on me. Here's a recipe I made this weekend, in the bread machine. It's a light bread, not very sweet but good with cream cheese and jam for breakfast. Lemon Poppy Seed Bread Recipe 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast 3 cups bread flour 1 tablespoon lemon zest -- grated 1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 4 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 cup water 1 large egg 1 teaspoon lemon juice GLAZE: 2 teaspoons unsalted butter -- softened 1 teaspoon lemon zest -- grated 4 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice -- or more Add all ingredients except those for glaze. Use basic cycle. While the bread is cooling to room temperature, make the glaze. Glaze cooled loaf of bread by drizzling glaze on top and sides of loaf. Let dry before slicing. Not very specific directions I know, but I just dumped everything in the bread machine according to the manufacturers directions for adding stuff (liquids first), and it came out good. The only thing I can add is use a "light" setting for the crust, I used med. and it is a bit overdone. I didn't glaze mine, so it's good for toasting.

Poppy Seed Tea Bread 3 c. sifted all purpose flour 3 1/2 t. double acting baking powder 1 t. salt 1/3 c poppy seeds 3/4 c. sugar 2 T. shortening 2 eggs 1 t. grated lemon rind 1 1/3 c milk Sift the first three ingredients together and mix with poppy seeds. Beat sugar, shortening and eggs together. Add grated lemon rind. Add flour mixture alternately with milk. Turn into a well greased, lightly floured pan (9 x 5 x 3). Bake for 60 minutes or until done in a 350° oven. Or Easy Nut & Poppy Seed Rolls 4 1/2 c. flour 2 egg yolks 1 t. salt 4 T. sugar 1 c. lukewarm water 2 yeast cakes (can use 6 sections of envelope yeast) 1/2 c. butter Crumble yeast into a cup, add water & sugar, let stand until you mix butter & flouer as for pie crust. Make a well, add egg yolks, salt & yeast mixture. Mix until smooth & dough leaves side of bowl. Divide into 4 pieces & roll out as thin as possible, spread with filling. Let stand in warm place, in a greased pan for 1 hour. Bake at 350° for 30 to 45 min. or until brown. Cover with a damp cloth for about 10 minutes. Nut Filling: (or buy canned) 1# ground walnuts 1 T. butter 1/2 c. sugar 1 t. lemon juice 1/2 c. milk Heat milk, add nuts & stir, add sugar, butter & juice. Cool before spreading on dough. Poppy seed filling 1/2# ground poppyseed 1 T. butter 3/4 c. sugar 1 t. lemon juice 1/2 c. milk Mix as for nut filling. Cool before spreading on dough. I hope one of these is what you are looking for. Tami