Suggested uses

Basic prep

Storage & handling

Store in a dry, cool place.

Ingredients

Yellow mustard seed. Contains mustard.

Mustard Powder is made by grinding yellow mustard seeds (Brassica alba), the sharply flavored, aromatic seeds belonging to a member of the cabbage family. Both the seeds and the leaves of the plant are edible. The name derives from the Latin "mustum ardems," meaning "burning must."

Mustard seeds come from a cruciferous plant that is grown in over forty varieties, with the yellow seeds being the mildest. While native to the temperate regions of Europe, since World War II, the crop has been produced most widely in Canada, with the French consuming about 70% of the supply.

Yellow Mustard Seeds are commonly used in pickling or in the seasoning of corned beef and vegetables, but can also be ground and combined with other ingredients to make the popular condiment.

The use of mustard seeds is primarily believed to have originated in the Middle East and Asia, and has been traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where the seeds were ground into a paste (similar to the table mustard we use today) and used by physicians such as Hippocrates, the father of medicine. An excellent source of selenium, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, mustard seeds contribute to decreased symptoms of asthma, and can help lower blood pressure and restore sleep patterns. Their high levels of phytonutrients also inhibit the growth of cancer cells and are thought to be especially helpful in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.