Poppy milk

Poppy milk is a traditional Lithuanian beverage often enjoyed during Kūčios, the 12-dish Christmas Eve supper. This distinctive drink is commonly paired with kūčiukai, another festive Lithuanian delicacy, and is also featured in kutya, a dish served during the traditional Russian Christmas Eve feast. Poppy milk is typically considered a dessert.

The preparation of poppy milk begins with soaking poppy seeds in hot water for a day, periodically changing the water until the seeds become soft. Once softened, the seeds are crushed to release a white liquid, which is then mixed with cold water and strained. This step is repeated several times to produce a concentrated poppy milk. Finally, the concentrate is diluted with cold boiled water and sweetened with sugar or honey.

Beyond its traditional holiday role, poppy milk has found some contemporary applications. It has been suggested as a natural sleep aid, with some studies indicating that poppy seeds may help promote better sleep. Additionally, poppy milk is occasionally used as a milk substitute, though this application is not as extensively researched as other milk alternatives.