Forums > Specific Focus > Mexican Kitchen

Anonimo

Jun 9, 2008, 10:37 AM

Post #1 of 11 (6303 views)

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Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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I use poppy seeds in baking and cooking. Two years ago, I brought a modest jar of them through MLM airport without a problem. (They were more interested in inspecting the bag with the 5 lbs of chocolate chips in it.)

However, late last year, when I went to the baker's supply house in Morelia, "La Frontera", and asked about "semillas de amapola" the man who had helped me gave me a strange look, and said, "There are problems..we can't sell poppy seeds... due to drug enforcement.", or words to that effect.

Friends about to drive here from NOB are offering to carry some baking specialty items to restock my dwindling supplies.
I saw poppy seeds in the Nora Mill catalog online. (We may be buying grits and other grains fron them.)
Would they be running a risk of problems with Mexican law enforcement if they carried culinary poppy seeds in their car?

Thank you for your knowledgeable responses.

Rolly

Jun 9, 2008, 11:07 AM

Post #2 of 11 (6298 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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On my website (http://rollybrook.com/dutyfree.htm) poppy seeds are specifically listed as prohibited. The information came from a government website which has disappeared, so cannot point you to the reference for that.

Seeds of all types are prohibited, but that rule seems to be casually enforced. I think I would put the poppy seeds in a Mason jar labeled sesame seeds.

Rolly Pirate

Anonimo

Jun 9, 2008, 11:45 AM

Post #3 of 11 (6291 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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In Reply To

Thanks, Rolly, but if the poppyseeds are prohibited, I wouldn't want my friends to run the risk. No vale la pena.

drmike

Jun 9, 2008, 12:27 PM

Post #4 of 11 (6288 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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At the Super Che Supermarket in Valle de Bravo last Wednesday, the bakery had quite a selection of poppy seed muffins, maybe it is okay for wealthy Mexico City patrons to purchase poppy seed muffins?
Dr. Mike

http://www.smarthealthchoices.blogspot.com

There are hundreds of paths up the mountain,
all leading in the same direction,
so it doesn't matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is the one
who runs around and around the mountain,
telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.

Hindu teaching

(This post was edited by drmike on Jun 10, 2008, 10:04 AM)

jennifer rose

Jun 9, 2008, 12:30 PM

Post #5 of 11 (6286 views)

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Re: [drmike] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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Even Costco has sold poppy seed-encrusted baked goods. The idea that poppy seeds are illegal is hogwash. Importing them, absent the right permits, is another matter, because the do fall into the category of seeds.

Rolly

Jun 9, 2008, 12:57 PM

Post #6 of 11 (6283 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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Hogwash it may be, but I copied this from an aduana website a few years ago:

Possession of illegal drugs -- marijuana in any form including seeds, heroin in any form including poppy seeds, cocaine in any form -- may result in a fine or imprisonment and confiscation of your car.

Rolly Pirate

husker

Jun 13, 2008, 1:02 PM

Post #7 of 11 (6234 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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Poppy seed that are sold in the USA for cooking have been treated so they will not germinate, thus making it impossible to grow the lovely red flowers.

esperanza

Jun 13, 2008, 1:44 PM

Post #8 of 11 (6225 views)

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Re: [husker] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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Señor Aduana, las semillitas están operadas ya y no pueden tener hijos...

Uh huh. 'Splain it to me, Lucy.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

BajaGringo

Jun 14, 2008, 11:01 PM

Post #9 of 11 (6191 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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The Home Depot here in Rosarito sells Poppy Seeds for your flower garden.

Go figure...

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

bournemouth

Jun 15, 2008, 6:38 AM

Post #10 of 11 (6183 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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There are many different kinds of poppies - the opium poppy is merely one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy

wendy devlin

Jun 15, 2008, 8:05 AM

Post #11 of 11 (6173 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Are poppy seed legal in Mexico?

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I grow several types of poppies, annuals, biennuals and perennials including the 'sleepy one'. And collect seeds from all varieties from year to year to grow more poppies, down the line.

The pods of the sleepy one, grow far larger than the pods of the other varieties. This is the only poppy that I have found possible to collect jars of seed from, for baking purposes.

That is probably why, it is also used, for the commercial production of poppy seed for culinary purposes. Along with the world-wide demand for both legal and illegal opiates.