Poppy Pod Mold?

[BeardedLadysLady]

I was breaking open our new shipment of poppy pods today because I like to get the stems and the seeds separated from the pods so when I want to make my tea I just crush up the pods and I'm done. But I noticed something weird on the inside of a few of my pods.

So I looked and looked and looked. I can't find any pictures online showing me what mold would look like on a dried poppy pod.
I couldn't even find any pictures showing me what a normal poppy pod looks like on the inside (even though I know what those look like).

So I want to see if anyone has come across this stuff when they cracked open a pod.

It is really dark. The inside of the pod had kind of an earthy, dirt type smell to it.

I would really like to know if this would be safe to make tea out of. I have plenty of healthy pods so throwing out the few that had this wouldn't be a problem. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I also included pictures of the inside of a normal pod looks like.

Thank you everyone!

[Cornfield]

bump cuz id like to know too, ive always thrown them out, get 3 or 4 of them every time i order

[wendal]

I usually throw those pods out.

They smell really musty, right?

I always thought it was a mold.

[LionsManeCultivator]

I had a few of those too and I just threw them out because they didn't seem like the rest and I didn't want to chance it. It really looks like some kind of mold to me, I would avoid it if I were you.

[duaut]

Definitely mold, nothing to worry about. Its never hurt me. Been using them for a few years now, receiving 3-4 in each order for the last +500 pods consumed. Still here healthy climbing Mtns and hiking over 20 days in the jungle 3 times a year. I knew it was mold, and all I do is clean out the dust and grind them up with the rest.
Up to you what to do, toss them keep them give them away. Our organic system consumes worse crap that it conquers everyday.

[Raziel]

I heard that it could very well be dried latex and was very common.

[dice]

As far as I know its mold.
Ive always been told to trash them.
Honestly its not worth the risk to me.
Outta of 150 jumbos was only like 7 moldy.
So why chance it?

[BeardedLadysLady]

Thanks for the help everyone!
I think I'm just gonna trash 'em.
They look too scary for me lol
We still have plenty of normal ones.

[wendal]

Originally Posted by Raziel

I heard that it could very well be dried latex and was very common.

Looks nothing, and most importantly smells nothing, like latex.

[Foster]

Yep. its mold. I discard these as they will ruin a nice arrangement.
Have read a few threads on a poppy forum which stated it may be a botrytis.
Have also read that at least one person became very ill from arranging moldy pods.

[dpwishy]

Iv read some where that the black might also be that the pod was damaged at harvest and some of the alkaloids leaked into the pod, and the seeds all got stuck to the inside walls due to it, giving it that thick black appearance. I'm not sure if that's true, but its what I've heard, Swim ingested a pod that looked like that on Saturday, now you guys have him all scared@!

love, peace, compassion and respect
-wishy

[BeardedLadysLady]

Ha. I think if he ingested it on Saturday and nothing has happened to him, he is probably fine. I hope so at least.
Other things I have looked up on line about it have said that people will ingest them just fine.

[Foster]

Why take a chance? That is definitely mold. Would you ingest a mushroom covered with a nasty black mold? I wouldnt.
I have made an arrangement with several pods, including one with this mold with no problems. However, it ruined the um... aroma/flavor. Was really nasty.
This is a pretty common mold in pods that havent been thoroughly or quickly dried. Probably not toxic, but as I said... why risk it.
peace Foster

[doobydoobydoo]

Moldy pods suck, but really no way to see em till you crack em open. Don't eat the moldy nasty pods.

[BeardedLadysLady]

Yeah.
They are trashed already.
I'm not chancing it.

Thanks Guys!

[real_psily]

Originally Posted by Foster

However, it ruined the um... aroma/flavor. Was really nasty.

HAHA I don't know anyone that drinks the tea for the flavor. That said I have always tossed the ones that look like that on the inside. I have had pods that did have dried latex on them and that black shit is NOT latex. Toss'em... I can say with almost complete certainty that it is mold.
Only eat mold if you know its name first. LOL

[Cornfield]

Originally Posted by real_psily

HAHA I don't know anyone that drinks the tea for the flavor. That said I have always tossed the ones that look like that on the inside. I have had pods that did have dried latex on them and that black shit is NOT latex. Toss'em... I can say with almost complete certainty that it is mold.
Only eat mold if you know its name first. LOL

wurd

[LionsManeCultivator]

I know this is off topic, but I gotta say cornfield I love that avatar!

[Oblivion]

Ive used pods like that more times than I care to remember. Maybe an alcohol extraction of questionable pods would clean up the alkaloids.