MUSTARD!

I love mustard.

But I do not like dijon mustard.

I also do not like restaurants that only carry dijon mustard. (snobs, I say)


My current project at work has got me researching condiments and I came across the Plochmans web page. Guess what? The Bahai Faith is mentioned on their website. Interesting, huh? I will cut and paste some of that interesting for you below:

Which country is the world’s largest producer of mustard seed?

Answer: Canada. You can find Canadian mustard seed used in mustard factories in France and Germany as well as in North America.

How long have people been using mustard for seasoning?

Answer: For recorded history, and probably, therefore, for a long time before that.
Here are some dates that we found mentioned:

Abraham is said to have served tongue with mustard.

The Egyptians are said to have eaten mustard seeds by chewing them along with meat.

6th century BC: Pythagoras mentioned mustard as a cure for scorpion bites. (Okay, that’s not a seasoning, but it is interesting. It appears that Pythagoras had theories about more things than right triangles.)

6th Century BC: The story of Buddha, the lady, and the mustard seed.

500 BC: Aristophanes wrote of mustard-spiced stews.

200 BC: The Roman playwright, Plautus, in Pseudolus, has the cook saying: "It is rubbed with criminal mustard, which burns the eyes of those who grate it."

1st Century AD: Pliny the Elder claimed that mustard would improve lazy housewives.

9th Century AD: During Charlemagne’s reign, mustard was cultivated on imperial lands and in the monasteries in Paris.

1758: We have found unconfirmed references that Benjamin Franklin was responsible for bringing mustard to the United States.

What are the origins of the term "Mustard?"

Answer: There are several theories, one that dates back to Roman times based on the use of "Must" or unfermented wine to make mustard. Two other theories come from the town motto of the town of Dijon France.
Originally mustard was called Sinapis. Some students claim that during Roman times the word Sinapis started to be replaced by words such as Mustum, Mustarum, and Mustardum as new wine, or "Must" was mixed with mustard seeds to make a paste.
More recent theories come from France. In one, the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Bold, gave the town of Dijon a coat of arms in 1382 with the motto "MOULT ME TARDE" (based on Multum Ardeo – I ardently desire). As the story goes, the motto was adopted by the town’s many mustard-makers, who eventually shortened it into Moul-tarde (to burn much).
Similarly, another story has it that the motto was given the citizens of Dijon by King Charles VI. In this version, the motto "MOULT ME TARDE" meant "Off to Battle." A humorous side note on this story was that some opponents of the Dijon army saw the motto but missed the "ME," in the middle, and came to believe they were dealing with an army of mustard-makers.

What religious writings include references to mustard?

Answer: Many of the world’s largest religions. We have found references from Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Bahai, Judaism, and Hinduism.

From the Persian Bayan of Sayyid `Ali Muhammad Shirazi:
"There is no-one but that, should he mention the letter of paradise,the spirits of the angels connected to them shall at that moment, gaze upon him and bless him on behalf of God. But when someone mentions the letters of hell, should he do so out of love for them, the spirits of the Satans of hell shall gaze upon him. If he does not seek refuge with God, they shall bring upon him whatever they are capable of, even if it be only a perturbation of the heart. But if he should seek refuge with God, and invoke his anger against them, they shall be unable to find any faith into him, nor shall they be able to have his faith even to the extent of nine ninths of ten tenths of a grain of mustard-seed."

From the writings of Bahá'u'lláh:
"Be vigilant, that ye may not do injustice to anyone, be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. Tread ye the path of justice, for this, verily, is the straight path . . . Decide justly between men, and be ye the emblems of justice amongst them . . . Beware not to deal unjustly with any one that appealeth to you, and entereth beneath your shadow . . . "


What famous conqueror sent his opponent a sack of mustard seeds for intimidation?

Answer: Alexander the Great.
Darius, King of Persia, sent Alexander a bag of sesame seeds, meant to suggest the number of Darius’ troops. Alexander, in return, sent Darius a bag of mustard seeds, not only more numerous because of their smaller size, but also more potent and fiery than sesame.

How is mustard heat different from pepper heat?

The sensation of heat from mustard comes from a volatile oil released when mustard seed is mixed with water. In very hot mustards the "heat" travels up the nose, even making your eyes water. It then dissipates, which we think is a favorable feature of mustard. Pepper heat, on the other hand, is concentrated in the mouth. It does not dissipate quickly, and it can be cumulative.