Results: Condimentrivia -- Must Have Mustard!

Mustard may have become popular for Americans in the early 20th century when it was introduced to the hot dog, but its history is even longer and spicier. There is even a National Mustard Day (August 3), and here are some facts about the popular condiment. First, let's set the record straight...prepared mustard is the condiment, while mustard plants are close relatives to a surprising variety of common vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, and cabbage. Have you ever enjoyed mustard as a condiment or as a vegetable?

Mustard was the first condiment humans ever put on their food. Egyptian pharaohs stocked their tombs with mustard seeds to accompany them into the afterlife, but the Romans were the first to grind the spicy seeds into a spreadable paste and mix them with a flavorful liquid—usually, wine or vinegar. French monks, who mixed the ground seeds with "must," or unfermented wine, inspired the word "mustard". Were you aware of mustard's historic "roots"?

Mustard has long been revered for its healing properties. Pythagoras endorsed a poultice of mustard seeds as a cure for scorpion stings. Hippocrates praised mustard paste as a miracle remedy capable of soothing pains and aches; and ancient Roman physicians used it to ease toothaches. Over the years, mustard has been used for appetite stimulation, sinus clearing, and frostbite prevention. It's now touted as a weight loss supplement, asthma suppressant, hair growth stimulant, immunity booster, cholesterol regulator, dermatitis treatment, and even as an effective method of warding off gastrointestinal cancer. Have you ever used mustard medicinally?

Which of these spicy trivia bits did you know?

Finally, which of these trivia facts did you know?