Ketchup and mustard: not only are they pantry staples but the two must classic condiments in America. It's a well known fact that ketchup is made out of tomatoes. But have you ever wondered what on earth mustard is made of?
Don't fear. I have the answer to one of the most important questions. Are ya ready for dis? Mustard is made from the seeds of a mustard plant. These tiny seeds are black, white or brown. The seeds are either whole, ground, cracked or bruised. So mustard is actually plant based.
Most of the time, mustard plants are harvested for their seeds, not the actual plants. Thousands of mustard seeds are crushed to form mustard powder. They can be used alone as a spice or added to other ingredients to make the condiment we all love, mustard. The powder can be mixed with things such as water, vinegar, white wine and sometimes other flavorings and spices. There are countless variations of ingredients, which is why there are so many different types of mustard. No two mustards are like. They can range in color (from yellow color to brown) and in taste (from mild to very hot.)
Fields of mustard seeds are actually really pretty. Believe it or not, 85% of the world's mustard seeds are grown in Canada, Montana and North Dakota.
The typical mustard that you think of is yellow, right? But where does that signature color even come from? It is actually because of the addition of a yellow spice called turmeric. Turmeric also has a lot of hidden health benefits like preventing Alzheimer's and certain types of cancer.
So, the short answer to the ultimate question is that mustard is made of crushed mustard seeds, water, vinegar, white wine. Seems easy enough. Think you can make your own?