The Opium Poppy FAQ Category: The Opium Poppy FAQ - Poppy Tea Created: Jun-08-01 04:01 AM View at: http://www.poppies.org/faq/faq3/1.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.) "What is Poppy Tea?" Poppy Tea is a drink made from the crushed pods of the plant Papaver Somniferum. It is quite bitter in flavour, although some will find the taste more unpleasant than others. The Rev. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.) "Why would I want to drink Poppy Tea?" Because poppy tea is made from the pods of the Opium Poppy, it contains certain psychoactive alkaloids found in the plant. These inlcude Morphine, Codeine, Papaverine, and Thebaine. People drink poppy tea for a variety of reasons. For some it provides a natural form of relief from chronic pain. Others use it purely for its recreational value. The Rev. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.) "Can I make poppy tea with any kind of poppies?" No. Poppy Tea can only be made from either fresh or dried pods from the Opium Poppy (Papaver Somniferum). There are several "species" of poppy that contain the necessary alkaloids to make tea -- but almost all fall under the label of "Papaver Somniferum". Within the papaver somnfierum species there are several varieties that contain varying amounts of alkaloids, such as "Hens and Chickens", "Persian Whites" and many others. As long as you're sure you have somniferum pods, you're getting the "real deal", so to speak. Other species that contain the "good" alkaloids are Papaver Giganthemum and Papaver Paeoniflorum. Papaver Paeoniflorum is actually just a synonym for Papaver Somniferum, when it is grown decoratively. Papaver Giganthemums are also known as "Giants", due to the fact that their pods are around the size of a tennis ball. The Rev. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4.) "What about Papaver Rhoaes, Papaver Orientale, California Poppies, Prickly Poppies, Icelandic Poppies, etc?" These are all beautiful flowers that would go well in anyone's garden. But none of these contain the alkaloids necessary for making poppy tea. Some may contain small amounts, but not enough to be of worth. Others, such as Califonia and Prickly poppies, aren't even poppies at all. The Rev. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5.) "How do I determine how many pods to use?" The amount of pods used can vary widely by strain and pod size. So just because one batch can be effective with 10 pods, another might only need as few as three for the same effects. So always keep this in mind when deciding to brew tea. Whenever you have a bunch of pods, it is best to first grind one up, and measure how much powder a single pod makes. After you have measured that out, grind all of your pods and mix the powder to create a homogenous product. By creating a homogenous powder you don't have to worry so much about variations in potency from one pod to the next. When it comes time to make the tea, you can measure out the amount of powder for a single pod and be relatively sure that it will be of similar strength to the rest. The Rev. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6.) "How do you make poppy tea?" Brewing up a batch of poppy tea is easy. Essentially all there is to it is grinding up some pods and adding them to boiled water. Presented below is a typical recipie for Poppy Tea. Make sure to always start with very few pods, and then work your way up to receive the desired effects. Remember -- it's better to start small and feel nothing, then to use too much and end up dead. Of course, this recipie is provided for informational purposes only, and it is not recommended that you actually try this: Step one: Take your supply of poppy pods and grind them in a coffee grinder to create as fine a powder as possible. Mix the powder into a homogenous product, so as to account for variations in potency between one pod and the next. Step two: Measure out five pods worth of powder. If you are using more "potent" strains such as hens and chickens, start with perhaps two. If you have a high tolerance to opiates, you can try more. But always remember to start SMALL. It's always better to waste some pods than to overdose! Step three: Boil two cups of water on the stove. Once the water is boiling, remove from the heat and add your powdered pods. Do not boil the pods! Step four: Stir occasionally, allowing around 10-15 minutes for the tea to "steep", and cool. Step Five: Pour the contents through a strainer or cheesecloth into a mug. Save the used pulp from the strainer, as it can be used again, although at about half the strength. Only use one cup of water when doing a re-brew. Step Six: Drink the mixture, including any powdery residue left at the bottom of your mug, as it will also contain alkaloids. Waste not want not! Many people simply cannot stand the taste of the tea. It can be quite horrible in fact, especially if you can't handle bitter flavours well. Some people like to add some honey or sugar to their tea to mask the flavour. Others say that mixing the tea with Orange Juice can totally mask the flavour, without reducing the effects. In the end, it's up to you. Remember, as with any opiate based substance, it is possible to both overdose or become addicted to poppy tea. So use caution! It's always better not to start at all, but if you must, it is imperative that you treat these powerful substances with the respect that they deserve. The Rev. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7.) "Making tea using a french press (bodum)" UPDATED Jun-11-01 08:58 PM (EST) One very effective way of making a great batch of tea is called a French press or Bodum. They can be purchased at your local Starbucks or other such establishment. 1) Using a powerful blender or coffee grinder grind up the amount of dried pods that suit you best. I usually go with about 20 or so depending on size. (keep in mind this is for a couple of people, you don't want to use too many at first) Grind to a coarse powder as you would for French press coffee 2) Place the grinds in the bottom of the Bodum 3) Boil a kettle of water 4) While waiting for the kettle, soak the powder with lemon or lime juice for about 10 minutes 5) Once the kettle has come to a boil, take it off of the element and wait for a minute 6) Then add the water to the Bodum 7) Press the plunger up and down repeatedly, not to hard or vigorously you don't want to make a mess or break anything 8) Next bring the plunger back up to the top and let stand for 10-30 minutes 9) Before you plunge it down for the last time stir the mixture and then plunge 10) Finally add the tea to your mug...sweeten with honey or brown sugar and viola! Enjoy St Thomas ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8.) "How many pods should a beginner use to make poppy tea?" Since poppy pods can vary so greatly in quality, there is no "standard" dosage in place. Not to mention that some strains are more potent than others, and so on. Depending on tolerance and other factors, it may only take a couple of pods to gain the desired effects, or it may take twenty. It is a natural product after all, so alkaloid content will vary from plant to plant. Remember: These are very potent plants, and you should exercise great caution when partaking in poppy tea. As such, the general rule of thumb should always be to START SMALL. If you must insist upon putting these substances in your body, then it is far better to start small and waste a few pods, than to use too many and end up sick, or even dead. This rule should apply whenever you aquire a new batch of pods, and not just when you drink your first cup. The potency of pods, even when aquired from commecial suppliers, can change on an almost daily basis. So never assume that the same dosage will always have the same effects. If you cannot treat these substances with the respect that they deserve, then you should not even consider drinking poppy tea. The Rev.