Mustard has been used as a home remedy for at least 3,000 years, with references in the Bible and Shakespeare. Dijon mustard originated in France in 1856, using verjuice instead of vinegar for a smoother taste. Gray Poupon mustard is an upmarket brand with a pungent flavor, and honey Dijon mustard is a sweeter dressing used on salads and chicken.
Mustard, in poultices or jars, is one of the first home remedies. It’s been around in one form or another for at least 3,000 years. The Christian Bible mentions mustard seeds, and those pungent little seeds were used for body aches, colds, and poultices for chest congestion. Mustard references even appear in Shakespeare!
Dijon mustard is a refined version of that first condiment and has its origins, obviously enough, in Dijon, France. A man named Jean Naigeon created his own version of mustard in Dijon in 1856. Over the centuries, most people made mustard from mustard seeds and vinegar. Naigeon used “verjuice” instead of vinegar. Verjuice is an acidic liquid obtained from unripe grapes. This use of verjuice instead of vinegar made Naigeon’s Dijon mustard smoother and more palatable. The name “Dijon”, in fact, refers only to the recipe, rather than to the city (unlike champagne, for example).
Inventor Maurice Gray invented a machine that automated the processing of mustard seeds, and he and Antoine Poupon, armed with Naigeon’s recipe, opened the Gray Poupon mustard shop in Dijon. They made mustard on site and also sold clay mustard pots.
The recipe for this type of mustard means that the mustard should be made only with brown or black mustard seeds, or a combination of the two, and verjuice, wine, or vinegar. No artificial colors, fillers or other additives can be used in Dijon mustard, making the recipe very popular these days.
The humorous commercials (“Forgive me, but you have some Gray Poupon”) depict Gray Poupon Dijon mustard as an upmarket brand, which is funny considering the condiment’s humble beginnings. It is available in most supermarkets or specialist shops. It has a more pungent flavor than regular yellow mustard, making it a great choice for cooking or other uses where yellow mustard breaks down and loses its flavor. Honey Dijon mustard obviously has honey in the recipe, making for a smoother and slightly sweeter dressing widely used on salads, chicken nuggets, and wings everywhere.
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