Most people go without questioning the difference between one ingredient and the next. But for bakers, chefs, and those who like to experiment in the kitchen or want to use what they have to save money, knowing the difference between non-essential ingredients like poppy seeds and sesame seeds can pay off…
Aside from their name, are there many noticeable differences between poppy and sesame seeds when used in cooking? Or are you able to use them interchangeably?
Of all their differences, the taste of poppy seeds separates them from sesame seeds. Poppy seeds have a mild taste with a slight nuttiness, while sesame seeds have a more distinct nutty flavour with a hint of sweetness.
What are Poppy Seeds?
Of all the seeds used in cooking, poppy seeds are one of the most well-known and widely used.
They are seeds taken and dried from the opium poppy, the only type of poppy that they are harvested from, grown mainly in Europe and South Asia.
That is why you are likely to see poppy seeds pop up in cuisines from these areas, as they are an ingredient cultivated over thousands of years.
The poppy seeds themselves are very small, only roughly a millimetre at most in length.
In fact, poppy seeds are so small that it takes around 1.5 million poppy seeds to make up 1 pound of seeds.
Despite their size, poppy seeds pack a delicious crunch which is primarily why they are used in cuisine in the first place.
As far as taste, poppy seeds don’t have much of an impact unless eaten by themselves. Poppy seeds are classed as a spice with a hint of nuttiness, but their taste is exceptionally mild.
What are Sesame Seeds?
Harvested from the sesame plant, sesame seeds grow in a pod until mature. Then their bitter husk is removed to reveal the sesame seed itself.
Sesame seeds have been cultivated and used in cuisine for more than 5000 years all over the world. It originates in Asia and East Africa, so you are more likely to find sesame seeds used in these cuisines.
As sesame seeds are high in oil, they may appear in a recipe as an oil, paste, or the raw seed.
The most common type of sesame seed is the white sesame seed, which has a distinctly nutty taste regularly enhanced in recipes by being toasted. The seed’s flavour and aroma also have a slight sweetness, though the overall taste remains delicate.
Black sesame seeds are cultivated in Southeast Asia and have a more complex, nutty taste than white sesame seeds.
Similarities Between Poppy Seeds and Sesame Seeds
There are a couple of reasons why your recipe may suggest using poppy or sesame seeds instead of each other. They have a few noticeable similarities that are worth knowing:
Plant-Based Products
As seeds, poppy seeds and sesame seeds are harvested from specific plants and sold with very little artificial intervention. Because of their plant-based origins and lack of extra ingredients, poppy and sesame seeds are suitable for vegans.
Texture
There is a range of poppy seed and sesame seed products. However, when they are enjoyed as raw seeds, poppy and sesame seeds have a noticeable crunch.
Not enough to be off-putting, but the perfect amount to be enjoyable and satisfying.
Nutty Taste
Not all seeds taste nutty, but poppy and sesame seeds have a notable nuttiness that makes them interchangeable in many recipes.
This taste can sometimes come across as woody in both cases when the seeds are eaten alone.
Differences Between Poppy Seeds and Sesame Seeds
Just because poppy and sesame seeds are a type of seed does not mean they are the same or can be used interchangeably in the kitchen. Here is how poppy seeds and sesame seeds differ:
Origin Plant
The first thing to note about poppy and sesame seeds is that they are harvested from different plants.
Poppy seeds are taken from one specific type of poppy (opium poppy), while sesame seeds are harvested from the sesame plant.
Appearance
It is easy to distinguish poppy seeds and sesame seeds from look alone. Even next to black sesame seeds, poppy seeds are significantly smaller at a maximum of 1 millimetre long. Sesame seeds are noticeably larger (around 4 millimetres long).
White sesame seeds are even more noticeably different from poppy seeds as they are a light, creamy colour while poppy seeds are a stark black.
Mildness
If you were to try and substitute poppy seeds for sesame seeds or vice versa, the biggest thing to remember is how different they are when it comes to their mild flavour.
Poppy seeds do have a hint of nuttiness when eaten alone but otherwise are almost tasteless. Sesame seeds have a much more robust taste and aroma that is evident in most cases.
Sub-Taste
Due to the extreme mildness of poppy seeds, the seeds only have a hint of nuttiness. That nutty taste is far more impactful with sesame seeds, followed by a pleasant sweetness.
Uses
The tiny size and less than mild taste of poppy seeds makes them pretty useless as a flavouring ingredient. That is why they are more commonly used for their texture than their taste to make smooth cakes or soft breads more interesting.
Sesame seeds are also used for their texture when added as a finishing touch to baked goods or dishes. However, their sweet-nutty flavour makes them popular in the kitchen.
Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds: Which Wins?
If you were limited to using either poppy seeds or sesame seeds in your cooking and baking, which would you pick?
Do You Prefer Poppy Seeds or Sesame Seeds?
Poppy Seeds and Sesame Seeds FAQs
Do you still have questions about poppy seeds and sesame seeds? Then check out these common queries:
Generally, yes. Sesame seeds will work well in place of poppy seeds to add texture and nuttiness, especially for the topping of breads.
No! Poppy seeds, as the name suggests, are harvested from poppies, whereas sesame seeds are harvested from the sesame plant. They are not the same.
Sources
Where we obtain our information and verify the facts in this article:
The Spruce Eats
What are sesame seeds
WebMD
What are poppy seeds
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
