Mustard is so much more than a condiment for hotdogs or an ingredient for marinades; it’s a relic of history, tradition, and culinary heritage throughout the world. Swedes are obsessed with mustard: they’re some of the top mustard consumers in the world! It comes to no surprise, then, that the Liss Ellas mustard from the Sweden Box is so incredible. Here’s a rundown of everything you never knew about mustard.
1. Artificial color
Mustard isn’t naturally yellow! The familiar color is generally achieved with the addition of turmeric.
2. An eternal condiment
Mustard never spoils!
3. More than the seeds
While the condiment is made with mustard seeds, other parts of the mustard plant are also edible: greens are used just like spinach, kale, or arugula. Mustard oil is extracted from the seeds and can be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.
4. Steeped in history
Having been used by the Chinese, Greeks, and Romans for thousands of years, mustard is one of the world’s very first spices.
5. A family matter
Other vegetables in the mustard family include broccoli, turnips, and cauliflower.
6. Copycat mustard
The popular variation called Dijon, traditionally from the French city of of the same name, isn’t actually always made in Dijon!
7. Spicing it up
For centuries, many cultures used mustard to add flavor to what would have otherwise been a bland preparation.
8. Import and export
Most mustard seeds are grown in Canada and Nepal. The seeds are then exported to other countries where the seeds are ground into a paste or transformed into a powder into the familiar condiment.
9. Mustard diversity
There are over 40 different varieties of mustard plants, but only four are used in standard mustard preparations: yellow, brown, black, and white.
10. A tourist attraction
The National Mustard Museum in Wisconsin houses more than 5,000 jars of mustard from all over the world. Admission is free, so if you’re in the southern Wisconsin area, be sure to check it out for an all-immersive mustard experience! Liss Ellas has won multiple awards from this museum.
