August 1: National Mustard Day

National Mustard Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in August. It was instituted by the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin. Here’s how to celebrate, from easy to awesome!

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The US consumes more mustard than any other country. Yellow mustard is the favorite. A National Hot Dog and Sausage Council survey found that 71% of Americans who eat hot dogs say they top them with mustard. This is why other countries simply call it American Mustard.

I believe mustard to be one of the most amazing condiments.

Justin Timberlake

Mustard Information

There are 40 species of mustard plants, but only 3 are used to make mustard:

• black (Brassica nigra)
• brown (B. juncea)
• white or yellow (Sinapis alba)

Mustard History

Mustard is thought to be one of the first domesticated crops. There is a record of it in Sanskrit manuscripts dating around 3000 BC, and it was known to be used in cooking and as medicine in Ancient Egypt, India, and China.

The Ancient Romans ground mustard seeds and mixed them with wine to create a paste much like the mustard we use today.

In fact, the term mustard comes from the Latin mustum ardens meaning “burning must“, referring to the hot spiciness the mustard added to “must” – fresh juice from wine grapes.

Mustard Seeds, Powder and Oil

The mustard seeds need to be cracked or ground to release their flavor.

Cracked seeds are used for pickling, in Middle Eastern cuisine as a seasoning, and as a coarse condiment.

Ground mustard powder is used as a rub in grilling, a seasoning in cooking, or to make prepared mustard dip, sauce, dressing or paste.

Mustard oil is made by either pressing the seeds, or grinding them, mixing with water and distilling the oil.

Pressed mustard oil is used for cooking.

Distilled mustard oil is an essential oil that can be toxic and is known to irritate skin and mucous membranes.

It is used in a very small amount to make an Italian fruit condiment called mostarda from candied fruit and a mustard-flavored syrup.

German Mustard

German Mustard can be mild, hot or sweet and coarse or fine. It is made with:

• yellow and brown mustard seeds
• spirit vinegar
• spices
• some include honey, brown sugar, or applesauce

The most famous German mustards are Düsseldorf, Mittelscharf and Bavarian Sweet.

Düsseldorf was the first mustard factory in Germany in 1726. It’s mustard jar was immortalized by Vincent Van Gogh in his painting, Still Life with Bottles and Earthenware.

Chinese Mustard

Have you tried the hot mustard in those little packets you get with your Chinese food takeout? It’s scorching hot because they don’t temper the heat of the mustard seeds. It is made with:

• ground brown or black mustard seeds
• cold water instead of vinegar or wine

Homemade Chinese Mustard is super-hot. After you make it you let it sit for 15 minutes to be at its peak of flavor and heat and serve it immediately as it mellows with age. (Don’t we all?!)

English Mustard

English mustard is a hot mustard, but not as hot as Chinese Mustard. To make it hot, it is made with:

• white/yellow and brown mustard seeds
• no vinegar or wine is added so it is hotter

The most famous English mustard is Coleman’s Dry Mustard. You can add it dry to cooking to add flavor, or mix it with water to form a paste (wait 15 minutes as with Chinese mustard.)

Sweet Mustard or Honey Mustard

Sweet mustard and honey mustard is exactly what it sounds like: mustard with a sweetness. Can be hot or mild. It is made with:

• 1/2 mustard base
• 1/2 honey, syrup, or brown sugar

American Yellow Mustard

Also called Ballpark Mustard because it is the favored topping on hot dogs. It is the mildest of mustards. It is made with:

• yellow/white mustard seeds – the mildest
• vinegar and water – cools the mustard down
• turmeric – gives it the bright yellow color

Yellow mustard was first manufactured in the US in 1904 by George T. French as “Cream Salad Mustard”, now known as French’s Mustard.

Whole Grain Mustard

Whole grain mustard features mustard seeds that have not been ground down. They are cracked just enough to release their flavor. It is made with:

• brown and black mustard seeds
• wine

This mustard has a coarse, thick texture.

National Mustard Day Inspiration

October 28, 1986, after the Boston Red Sox lost the World Series, Barry Levenson found himself in the mustard aisle of an all-night supermarket. He bought dozens of jars of mustard that night and a mustard seed of an idea was planted – amass the world’s largest collection of mustard.

In 1992, Levenson left his job as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Wisconsin to open the National Mustard Museum. Today the museum hosts 6,090 mustards from 50 states and more than 70 countries.

2. Take their Mustard Quiz.

How much do you know about mustard? Take the National Mustard Museum’s pop quiz at Poupon U and find out!

(Their website seems to be having an issue with the nav bar, so you’ll have to scroll down a little to get to the quiz.)

Turn National Mustard Day into a mini-celebration with a Mustard Taste Testing Party!

It’s easy!

Step 1: Choose your mustard.

Try to have a mustard from each category that we discussed above so there are different flavors.

We recommend the World Mustard Collection to keep it simple.

Then add in specialty mustards. There’s some with onion, cranberry and or other berries, figs & dates, orange & ginger, all sorts of different flavors.

Step 2: Decide how you want your mustard tasted.

You can use:

Food

Using food makes it a mustard taste testing party!

• hot dogs
• pretzel sticks
• doughy pretzels
• cocktail wieners
• pretzel wrapped cocktail wieners!

Of course you’ll want a dessert to make it a true celebration. How about pretzel-topped cupcakes?

Best Mustard Recipes