Mustard Seed

Scientific name: Sinapis hirta (white mustard), Brassica juncea (brown mustard), Brassica nigra (black mustard)

Available forms: Whole and ground

Mustard means different things to different people. To the boy in Paris spreading mustard on his baguette as he prepares his ham and cheese sandwich, mustard is a sharp-tasting condiment. To the girl in Calcutta, mustard seeds are those little black grains popping in the pan, telling her it’s curry night. As different as these two experiences are, the plant source (Brassicaceae) for these two products is the same.