Most of us see khus khus sprinkled on a loaf of bread or as a sweet filling. The flavour of poppy seeds makes it easy to incorporate them into all types of different foods.
It was grown to produce opium in historical times. The opium would normally be smoked in a pipe which would give the smoker a high. These days, however, we use them for much safer and more fun things. Also, check the buyer’s guide to buying the best Black Raisins, Black Cardamom, Cardamom, Elaichi or Green Cardamom, Cardamom Powder, Pepper Powder, Kalonji Seeds, Dry coconut, Cocoa Powder, Cumin powder, Cheese Powder, Turmeric Powder, mulethi powder, mulethi sticks, ginger powder, Dalchini Powder, Eliachi Powder, Dalchini sticks, Cloves, Elaichi, Peppercorns, Black Peppercorns, Cumin powder, masala tea powders, Amla Juice, Giloy Juice, Triphala Churna, Tulsi Drops, Aloe Vera Juice, Mishri, Ginger Powder, Anjeer, Badam, Mamra Badam, Walnut, Dry dates, coconut powder, Kishmish, Pista, and Long Peppercorns in India.
You can use this versatile seed in several different ways for both sweet and savoury dishes. Many health benefits come with the consumption of khus khus. There are a few things you have to think about before buying khus khus, and here are some of those things.
Top 10 Best Khus Khus Brands in India
Buyers Guide – Khus Khus
You don’t have to put too much effort into deciding which brand of khus to buy. This is because you should already know what you are looking for before you go on the market.
- First, consider what type of seeds you want.
- If you want to bake with them and use them as decorations, black poppy seeds are your best bet.
- However, if you want to use them as a flavouring agent or to make a sauce perhaps. Then white poppy seeds are most likely the best option for you.
- Next, you want to consider packaging because it can affect the shelf life of the seeds.
- Some brands use spice shakers to sell their khus khus because they will mainly be used for decorating.
- Other companies sell them in big bags that you need to finish before a given best before date.
- You can also decide between getting them roasted or raw depending on your intentions.
- Raw seeds are way more versatile because you can do more with them.
- You can use them to make poppy seed oil or even grind them down to a paste.
- Also, you can roast them by yourself at home if you want to.
Features of Khus Khus or Poppy Seeds
- Besides being used as a traditional medicine for centuries, there are other benefits to khus khus that aren’t spoken of often.
- To start with, they are full of antioxidants which, when you eat them, help to keep your body healthy.
- They are also nutrient-rich and contain a list of different vitamins and minerals that the body needs.
- The oil from poppy seeds is full of components that boost the health of your heart and skin.
- There is some research to show that it may also be helpful during digestion by reducing constipation.
- Other studies show that poppy seed oil may be able to help with female infertility.
Types of Khus Khus
Two particular types of khus khus are used in cooking.
These two are:
White Poppy Seeds
- These seeds come with a milder flavour.
- You can use this seed when you cook and you can also ground or roast it.
- Also, you can use them to flavour and thicken sauces as well.
- This seed used to be very easy to come across, so it was sold at an affordable price.
- Today, they are more difficult to find and are rather expensive.
Black Poppy Seeds
- You can use these seeds as a way to decorate baked goods and also to stuff baked goods.
- Also, you can find these typically find in Europe and the U.S.A.
Benefits of Khus Khus?
The poppy flower is well known to be a source of opium, but what you don’t know is that the narcotic effect of its seeds is lost once they are ripe.
- Poppy seeds that you use for Indian cuisine, usually the white ones, are not seen as often, but can still be found.
- You can even experiment with them to find new, mouth-watering recipes.
- They are more expensive because they are not as abundant as they once were.
- You can grind them into a paste or powder which you can use to make sauces and stews thicker.
- Along with thickening, it will add a lovely, mild flavour to any meal that you make.
List of Top 10 Best Khus Khus in India-Buyers Guide
1. Minimal Poppy Seeds
You can use this product for more than just decorating. It has a shelf life of 6 months which gives you enough time to finish the 150g packet.
Pros:
- 6-month shelf life
- Rich flavour
Cons:
- You need to wash it
2. Prizex Natural Organic Poppy Seeds
You can use this 250g bag of organic seeds to make anything from oil to sauces.
Pros:
- Organic
- Raw
Cons:
- Mixture
3. Amazon Brand Vedaka Poppy Seeds
This is one of the more affordable brands because it comes in a 100g bag.
Pros:
- Hygienically packaged
- No preservatives
Cons:
- Boring packaging
4. Urban Platter Poppy Seeds
You can use this delicious product as a yoghurt topping, or in curries and sweets.
Pros:
- Versatile
- High quality
Cons:
- Fragile packaging
5. Minimal Poppy Seeds 500g
This amount of khus khus will last you a long time, or maybe you own a café.
Pros:
- Large quantity
- Premium quality
Cons:
- Expensive
6. Prakash Poppy Seeds
A huge bonus of this product is that it has a long shelf life. It comes in 4 boxes of 100g which should be more than enough.
Pros:
- 6-month shelf life
- Great taste
Cons:
- You need to wash it
7. Avnimarketing Vegetarian Khus Khus Seeds
200g of these great seeds with no added preservatives is an awesome deal.
Pros:
- No preservatives
- No artificial flavour
Cons:
- Bad packaging
8. Dry Fruit Hub Poppy Seeds
400g of pure taste is what you will get if you buy this product.
Pros:
- Hygienically packed
- Crispy
Cons:
- Not organic
9. Godka Poppy Seeds
This product undergoes quality control and is a good addition to your kitchen.
Pros:
- Hygienically processed
- Good flavour
Cons:
- Expensive
10. Organic Cart Natural Khas Khas
You get a reusable container with this purchase of 250g of quality seeds.
Pros:
- Reusable container
- High quality
Cons:
- Very expensive
Conclusion
With its bad reputation, khus khus are not as widely consumed as they should be. Hopefully, this guide has made you more aware of what you can use it for. There are so many advantages of eating it, so keep on decorating those bread rolls.
FAQs
What is khas khas called in English?
Khas khas are known as poppy seeds in the English language.
Where do we use khus khus?
There are many instances that you can use khus khus, including for baking, cooking and even decorating.