mostarda is a typical Italian condiment made from slightly unripe fruit such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries, figs, melon, pumpkin, and citrus peel that have been preserved in syrup, often with a decisive piquant taste from ground mustard seed. Although the word mostarda sounds similar to the French moutarde or English mustard, the word derives from the Latin mustum ardens (fiery grape must), fresh grape juice boiled down to a thick syrup with the spicy addition of mustard seed. Whereas the French and English forms of mustard refer to both the plant and the finished product, in Italy mostarda only refers to the fruit-based condiment, while senape means “mustard.”
