Khus khus
Poppy seed, a creamy, nutty white or blue-grey seed used to thicken curries and top breads.
Also: poppy seed, gasagase, posto, kasa kasa
Khus khus is the seed of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, though the seed itself carries no meaningful opiate. White poppy seed, the common Indian type, is soaked and ground to a paste that thickens and enriches Mughal kormas and Bengali posto dishes. Blue-grey seed is the European and Middle Eastern kind, used in German and Eastern European cakes, strudel and bagels. The seed is tiny, nutty and slightly sweet, and it goes rancid if kept warm, so it is best stored cool. Some countries restrict its import, so travellers should check local rules.