Powerful Little Mustard Seed
By Pamela99
History of Mustard Seed
Mustard seeds have been traced to ancient times but the origins are lost in history. Initially, mustard was considered a medicinal plant rather than a culinary one and was used for scorpion stings. A hundred years later Hippocrates used mustard in a variety of medicines and poultices, used to cure toothaches and a number of ailments.
Egyptians tossed the seeds on their food and mustard seeds were placed in King Tut’s tomb. Wealthy Romans ground the seeds and mixed them with wine. Westerners had mustard seeds long before pepper. The word mustard comes from the Middle English mustarde, meaning condiment; which in turn comes from the Old French mostarde he. Then there is the famous parable from the Bible where Jesus says, “"If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you!”
Mustard Plant
Mustard Seed
Types of Mustard Plants
There are 40 species of mustard plants and the ones that are used for commercial mustard are black, brown, and white mustard. White mustard is what is primarily used in yellow mustard and is grown in the Mediterranean basin. Brown mustard originated in the Himalayas and is the basic mustard found in Chinese restaurants and is the basis for mustard found in American and European restaurants. Black mustard is popular in the Middle East and Asia Minor. It has to be hand harvested, so it is not used much in other areas. Mustard is a member of the Brassica family which bear tiny edible seeds and edible leaves. Interestingly enough the mustard plant is in the same family as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard, kale and kohlrabi
Mustard popularity was declining in the mid 1700’s due to new spices arriving from the Americas and the Far East. The market was revived in France, in the city of Dijon when Burgundian Jean Naigeon substituted verjuice for the vinegar in prepared mustard. The mustard was less acidic and the smooth, suave Dijon mustard assumed its place in history.
Function of Mustard
Mustard in the kitchen has three main functions: a condiment, a flavoring agent or spice, and a vegetable. Mustard is good to bind a sauce and is used commercially to create the proper texture in sausages and prepared meat products. Of course, mustard is used out of the jar on sandwiches, hot dogs or other prepared food. A spoon full of mustard is good on a piece of grilled fish, on sausage or roast beef.
The use of mustard flour is a condiment in most common Asian cuisine. It is used on egg rolls and this mustard is hot and sharp
Shelves of Mustard
Mustard Types and Uses
Mustard as a flavoring agent must be used skillfully beginning with the choice of mustard. Out of hundreds of mustard types available today, there are only a few that are suitable for most cooking. To maximize the flavor, mustard should be added late in the cooking process because heat destroys much of the mustard’s distinctive taste. Many sauces are made using mustard, such as honey mustard sauce.
Mustard flour is part of many traditional recipes, such as gingerbread and chocolate cake. It is used as other spices and it contributes a depth and richness of flavor that is not necessarily identified as mustard. Some claim mustard flour heightens the flavors of all foods.
Beside the basic yellow mustard, some of the more well know varieties of mustard are deli-style mustard, Dijon mustard, Stone-ground and Whole-Grain mustard, sweet mustard, honey mustard, fruit mustard, herb mustard, Horseradish mustard, hot mustard, Old World Mustard, English and French mustard, Spirited mustard, mustard garlic, Irish mustard, Australian mustard, and other miscellaneous mustard
Mustard Field in Bloom
How to Make Mustard
Mustard Seed Necklaces
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Mustard Trivia
Mustard doesn’t require refrigeration because of its antibacterial properties but it will lose pungency more quickly and should be stored in a tight sealed container. Mustard doesn’t have any particular great nutritional value but the good news is there are no calories.
To add just a few little interesting facts:
- More than 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed annually worldwide. Mustard is the second most popular condiment in the U.S. second only to peppercorns. National Mustard Day is August 1st.Pope John XXI loved mustard so much that he created a new Vatican position—grand moutardier du pape (grand mustard-maker to the pope)—and promptly filled the post with his nephew.
- New York’s Yankee Stadium uses more than 1,600 gallons plus 2,000,000 individual packets of mustard annually.
- Ancient Chinese considered mustard an aphrodisiac.
- An old German custom had the bride sew mustard seeds into the hem of her wedding gown to assure her dominance of the household.
- Mustard seeds are spread around the outside of the house to ward off evil spirits in some cultures, and is more common in Denmark and India.
- Jewelry is made using the mustard seed, necklaces and bracelets..
In summary, all parts of the mustard plant are edible and obviously it is a very popular condiment. It is much more than the condiment you put on your hot dog at the ball park, although that is a good part of the whole sporting experience.
The copyright to this article is owned by Pamela Oglesby. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Hello, Thank you for your comments.
We eat 700 million pounds of mustard a year in the U.S.? That's an awful lot of mustard. Must mean we're consuming an awful lot of hot dogs. No one I know eats mustard just by itself.
Thanks for the interesting and little-known (to me) info and trivia, Pamela.
drbj I have seen mustard eating on a lot of different kinds of sandwiches and some eat it on hamburgers. It does sound like a lot. Thanks for your comments.
Interesting hub on mustard seed.
Pamela,
Interesting hub on mustard. Back in high school I had a friend who developed a taste for mustard on french fries to prevent others from bumming his fries at lunch and it worked.
Great hub on the mustard seed, makes me what to write a poem about having enough faith for one little mustard seed. Thumbs up my friend
Love all the facts you added on Mustard. Great hub, I love it and I love mustard as well.
Sandy, Thank you for your comment.
Tom, That's funny. I have seen people use mustard on some unusual things. Thanks for your comment.
Darlene, Thank you for your comments. I think writing a poem would be a great idea. I'll watch for it.
Rpalulis, I'm glad you enjoyed the hub. Thanks for your comments.
I learned something new about mustard seeds!
I find this hub very interesting and definitely learned a great deal about this tiny little seed, so small it has a place in Jesus's parable. Rated it up and nice work, Pam, yet again.
Great info and I LOVE mustard dishes. You really covered it well and did pick a subject that was actually refreshing! I'm so tired of seeing what I'm writing about I could about slap myself.
2besurem I'm glad you learned something new. Thank you for your comment.
Auginwu, Thank you so much for the complement and your comments.
akirchner, Thank you so much for the comments. It has not been easy to fihd a really interesting topic with these guidelines.
Now I understand your title - how important this plant has been, while we think of it mainly as a spread. I particularly enjoyed your 'interesting facts' section, could relate to Yankee Stadium, and how much mustard is consumed there.
As always, an interesting topic. Going to have to look up some recipes that use more of this now. Never knew it was as popular as it is either. I'd have thought ketchup may have taken the reigns on that one. :)
Pamela
First since historically mustard was considered a medicinal plant rather than a culinary one maybe that’s the simple answer to our economy. Spread Mustard up and down Wall Street; in the Board Rooms of all large American Based Corporations; in all our Banks, up and down Main Street U.S.A. and even all over Bwarney Fwank the Banking Queen (he would love it); that makes as much sense as anything this Regime has proposed so far. Think of all the jobs that would be created first you would need mustard spreaders then mustard cleaner uppers!
Good ole Don’t Mess With Joe; Turrets Syndrome Biden himself could proudly stand before the cameras and proclaim how they’ve created an additional 746,000 jobs just this month as mustard Spreaders.
Helen Thomas; aka I hate Jews, could ask the first question at the next White House Briefing about the proposed Mustard Plan and follow up with a request to Proclaim Barrack Hussein Obama America’s First Mustard King!
Now as far as the Biblical reference where Jesus says, “"If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you,” goes; you know as well as I that that’s gotta go. Since America is no longer a Christian Nation as Proclaimed by none other than Barrack Hussein Obama on his most recent Magical Middle Eastern Tour; Tra La- The Magical Middle Eastern Tour; Tra La-The Magical Middle Eastern Tour; the Magical Middle Eastern Tour is coming to take you away……….
Great info on the powerful little mustard seed. :)
Sheila, I[' glad you enjoyed the hub. Thanks for your comments.
Springboard, I think ketchup probably is pretty high up on the popularity list also. Thanks for your comment.
Patriot, At least you have a master plan to help those that are unemployed. Maybe it would raise money since now the deficit is higher than the gross domestic products. Thanks for your comments.
Katiem, Thanks for your comment.
Great hub - I am a bit of a mustard fan - different mustards for different meats - it really does make it different and enjoyable.
Billy, Yes, I have different types of mustard at home also. Thanks for your comments.
Now I have to read more about mustard's antibacterial properties! Thanks :)
Thanks for a really interesting hub. Would like to add that people on gluten free diets should take care and check the packaging on 'made' mustards as sometimes wheat flour is included.
R. Tallone, Thanks for your comment.
Allison, You are right about the gluten free diet. Thanks for your comments.
Well done Pamela99. Am a big mustard fan. If you substitute mustard for katsup in homemade bbq sauces, a BBQ can become something a bit more special when using pork derived meats.
Outstanding history information.
If only all of us could find something so wonderful in everything so small... voting up!
K9strokes, Thank you so much for your comments. I'm glad you liked the hub. I like mustard based sauces also.
i apologize for what i am about to do
this hub definitely cuts the mustard
EyePOD, I am glad to see you have a sense of humor and that you like apparently like the hub.
Hello Pamela, I enjoyed this hub on mustard and the history and things I learned. Thank you!
Oceansunsets, Thank you very much for your comments.
Wow, a Vatican position for mustard! There is more to mustard than what I thought, but thank God 'faith the size of a mustard seed' can do wonders! Voted-up/rated!
Support Med, The history is interesting for this little seed. Thanks for your comments.
Very interesting hub. I enjoyed learning about the history of the mustard seed.
Nancy, Thank your very much for your comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the hub.
Luvit:) my mother used to wear a necklace containing a mustard seed under glass, when I was a child:)
wcoffeechick, Often those necklaces are to do with the Bible as faith the size of the small mustard seed is sufficient. Thanks for your comment.
I love this hub...I also have an amzaing love for mustard. I overdose mustard on my pretzels!
Christine, I know someone else who likes mustard that well. Thanks for sharing your comments.
I too like mustard on pretzels...not the soft ones, but those little hard ones. Great snack!
RTalloni, I know a lot of people that like that snack. Thanks so much for your comments.
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