# What is the point of poppy-seed cake? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2016, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072 "2016-01-24T08:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/1 "2016-01-24T08:09:51Z")
Another thread has inspired me to ask a question I’ve been wondering a long time. What is the point of poppy-seed cake/buns/rolls? Is the whole point actually that people like the mood lift it gives them (like poppy seed tea), or is there some other reason for using masses of poppy seeds when cooking? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/2 "2016-01-24T08:18:31Z")
Taste, smell and texture. The actual amount of opiates is miniscule. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/3 "2016-01-24T08:20:28Z")
Personally, I like the flavor, the same way I like the flavor of vanilla and orange peel and any number of other baking add-ins. Why should it be any more complicated than that? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/4 "2016-01-24T08:47:43Z")
Poppyseed is the best hamantaschen filling. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/5 "2016-01-24T10:57:10Z")
Toasted/roasted poppyseed, ground, and incorporated into a pastry of some sort provide a nutty flavor and mouthfeel not available any other way. QED & Mmm mmm mmm… ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/6 "2016-01-24T13:16:56Z")
Yes, all Hungarians/a gazillion Ashkenazi Jews have been surreptitiously getting high on chili con carne and pizza. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/7 "2016-01-24T13:24:38Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Poppyseed is the best hamantaschen filling. Indeed. I imagine they invented Purim simply to make poppy seed hamantaschen. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/8 "2016-01-24T13:53:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Indeed. I imagine they invented Purim simply to make poppy seed hamantaschen. Who needs an excuse =) We keep cans of the premade filling around - you can thin it out and use it as pancake syrup =) Try it on ice cream … yum. Spread it on toast =) ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/9 "2016-01-24T18:03:11Z")
Does the OP perceive eating poppy seeds gives a mood lift, or is this pure conjecture on their part? I have never noticed such a thing and always assumed as others have posted that the amount of opiates were negligible to non existent. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/10 "2016-01-24T18:34:15Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > Does the OP perceive eating poppy seeds gives a mood lift, or is this pure conjecture on their part? I have never noticed such a thing and always assumed as others have posted that the amount of opiates were negligible to non existent. Enough to fail a drug test, not enough to make it worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/11 "2016-01-25T05:10:00Z")
Many years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, there was a bakery on Haight Street that made poppyseed hamentaschen. (I think the bakery was called “Beau Seventh Heaven.”) They weren’t individual folded treats, but rather made in a sheet pan with the pastry in a layer on the top and bottom and\*\* about an inch and a half of poppyseed filling in between.\*\* They cut it into large squares. I had never seen such a thing before, nor had I ever had proper coffee. (my mom always used instant.) Oh, the ecstasy! ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/12 "2016-01-25T06:08:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Enough to fail a drug test, not enough to make it worthwhile. You have to consume a LOT of poppy seed baked goods to fail a drug test, or be taking a drug test that does not conform to current standards. (The feds raised the standard cut-off level for a positive result to 2000 ng/mL precisely because older drug tests, often using a cut-off in the 100-300 ng/mL range, would return positives for consuming poppy seed bagels.) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/13 "2016-01-25T06:11:55Z")
**Moderator Action** Moving thread from General Questions to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/14 "2016-01-25T09:27:59Z")
The real purpose of poppy seeds is to be made into mohenzucker and sprinkled on the top of a [germknodel](http://thepassionatecook.typepad.com/thepassionatecook/2004/06/germkndel.html) mit vanillasauce. Ohhhhhh…yeaahhhh! ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/15 "2016-01-25T12:50:27Z")
Poppy seed cake is delicious! > [@Alessan](#): > > Poppyseed is the best hamantaschen filling. Also the best for strucla. God, I miss my grandmother’s strucla. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/16 "2016-01-25T12:54:01Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Poppyseed is the best hamantaschen filling. This is the one and only purpose of poppyseeds. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/17 "2016-01-25T16:17:18Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Poppy seed cake is delicious! > > Also the best for strucla. God, I miss my grandmother’s strucla. …and [makovnjača](https://www.google.com/search?q=makovnja%C4%8Da&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi30uvyrsXKAhUK7GMKHfUXDqAQ_AUIBygB&biw=1472&bih=817). Ah, grandmothers. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/18 "2016-01-25T16:26:33Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > You have to consume a LOT of poppy seed baked goods to fail a drug test, or be taking a drug test that does not conform to current standards. (The feds raised the standard cut-off level for a positive result to 2000 ng/mL precisely because older drug tests, often using a cut-off in the 100-300 ng/mL range, would return positives for consuming poppy seed bagels.) This is not true. As Mythbusters proved. One poppy seed bagel was enough for Jaime to fail the drug test. One! Adam ate a poppy seed cake and failed the drug test 24 hours later. The drug testing companies say that they can weed out the poppy seed eaters but it just isn’t true. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/19 "2016-01-25T17:57:31Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > …and [makovnjača](https://www.google.com/search?q=makovnja%C4%8Da&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi30uvyrsXKAhUK7GMKHfUXDqAQ_AUIBygB&biw=1472&bih=817). Ah, grandmothers. I’ll add the Polish [_makowiec_](https://www.google.com/search?q=makovnja%C4%8Da&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi30uvyrsXKAhUK7GMKHfUXDqAQ_AUIBygB&biw=1472&bih=817#tbm=isch&q=makowiec) and Hungarian _mákós beigli_ to the mix. Oh, and Slovenian _potica_, too. > [@slash2k](#): > > You have to consume a LOT of poppy seed baked goods to fail a drug test, or be taking a drug test that does not conform to current standards. (The feds raised the standard cut-off level for a positive result to 2000 ng/mL precisely because older drug tests, often using a cut-off in the 100-300 ng/mL range, would return positives for consuming poppy seed bagels.) Well, if you look at the picture of the poppy seed rolls linked to above, I think it qualifies for “lot of poppy seed.” We’re not talking a sprinkle on a bun or bagel levels, but rather more like tablespoons or more of the stuff. And, no, they don’t get you high or euphoric or anything like that. They just taste great, and have a nice texture. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072/20 "2016-01-25T18:08:05Z")
So that you can avoid that trip to Africa to see the Bushmen [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-poppy-seed-cake/744072.md?page=2)